England's 1-0 win against Germany on Saturday night represented not just a vastly improved showing on their opening defeat by Portugal but it also looked to me like their best performance of the last two years.

People may say that this is not a great German team, and clearly this is true, but England will take heart from this win not just because it came in a pressure situation but above all because it came against Germany, their bogey team over recent years and tournaments.

Even if England started slowly, I still think they were entirely deserving winners.

At the beginning, they were still feeling the negative psychological after-effects of the defeat by Portugal but once they got into the game, they looked the better side.

Not only did England create the better chances but they also had the better players in at least three key positions. I'm talking about Paul Scholes in central midfield, David Beckham on the right and Alan Shearer in attack.

Take Shearer, for example - there has been a lot of English media and fan pressure to have him dropped yet, at the end of the day, he remains England's most reliable striker. His goal on Saturday night was just terrific, given the pressurised context of the match.

Germany, on the other hand, fielded a very dull attacking duo in Carsten Jancker and Ulf Kirsten. Both men are big and strong, both of them put themselves about up front but both lack the creative skill to cause serious problems to an international defence worth its salt.

Ironically, the injury enforced absence of Steve McManaman proved an advantage to England since it left them with a much tighter, more organised midfield. Whereas Portugal picked off the English midfield as they pleased, the Germans found little change in that area.

Having said that, though, the Germans had very little by the way of quality in their midfield. Only Mehmet Scholl looks capable of inventing something for them.

At this point, I expect England to qualify for a quarter-final clash with Italy by picking up the necessary draw with Romania in Charleroi on Tuesday. I cannot see this current Romanian side, especially without the suspended Gheorge Hagi, causing England many problems. After that, it will be Italy but that is matter for another day.

Talking about matches to come, the most positive aspect of the Spanish and Yugoslav wins yesterday was that it has set us up for a terrific final Group C game between the two of them in Bruges next Wednesday. I hope that Spain make it through to the next round because I think that, both in their 2-1 win over Slovenia yesterday and obviously in their opening 1-0 loss to Norway, they have performed well below their potential.

If Spain were to get into the quarterfinals, I think they might finally show us what they can do. You would have to say that yesterday they did not play all that well, looking like a side still unsure of itself and smarting from that defeat by Norway.

At this point, I have to say a word in favour of Slovenia who have done better here than many expected. Zlatko Zahovic is clearly a talented player while many of those around him are comfortable on the ball. For them, of course, the big night was that opening game against Yugoslavia and we saw all their limitations and their lack of experience when they dropped that three goal lead to draw 3-3.

Which brings me to yesterday's second game which saw Yugoslavia beat Norway - 1-0. Before analysing the Yugoslavs, let me just say here and now that Norway must be the most one-dimensional side in the world. Even after they conceded an early goal last night, they failed to lift their game in any way, showing no signs of urgency.

It is hard to find anything redeeming to say about the Norwegians, even if as the game went, they might even have snatched an injury-time equaliser through John Carew. Most neutrals, though, would much prefer to watch Yugoslavia, with all their creative talent and terrific ball skills.

The Yugoslavs, though, have a dark side. They never manage to give a performance that is convincing for the full 90 minutes. Collectively and individually, they are so impressive. Players like Predrag Mijatovic, Dragan Stojkovic and Savo Milosevic need no introduction to Irish readers while for me one of the great discoveries about Yugoslavia at this tournament has been their talented left-sided player Ljubinko Drulovic.

Yet, last night, they got involved in niggly stuff, they kept falling over when there was no need and, in the end, I think their attitude was partly responsible for the lighting-quick sending-off of young substitute Mateja Kezman. Scottish referee Hugh Dallas was probably fed up with the Yugoslav side's antics and accordingly was probably a bit harsh on Kezman.

Mind you, as I said earlier, after last night's results, I am looking forward to the Spain v Yugoslavia game.

(In conversation with Paddy Agnew)