The new Wembley stadium - hosts its first real football match, at last ...

At last, the new Wembley is hosting a real football match*, so one can safely (famous last words?!) assume that the FA Cup final will be hosted at the new Wembley in just a few weeks time?

I have happy memories of the Cardiff Millennium stadium (ie, Sheffield Wednesday securing promotion to the Championship in the play-off final) which was as an excellent substitute national stadium, but I suppose for all the delays and outrageous amount of money it has cost, the new Wembley looks set to be a stadium worthy of our national game. Personally, I find its design somewhat anonymous and rather too conservative. Aesthetically, the Cardiff Millennium is more inspiring.

Roll on the FA Cup final, and hopefully Manchester United will win it - inevitably it will be a big money clash between Man U and Chelsea, and not many neutral fans want to see the $$$$ over-indulged 'Chelski' win - the prospect of seeing Ronaldo's sublime talents at the new Wembley is certainly an appealing one. Don't miss it.

*ps, the England vs Italy under-21's match has just finished - a rather exciting 3-3 draw. Italy's Pazzini scoring a hat-trick; there's one for the new stadium's record-books. Match that, Man Utd, Chelsea or England seniors, eh?

Still, let's beat Israel tonight first .....


BBC SPORT Football Wembley pictures