A shame, as this was perfect timing for a band who have cemented their place as pop saviours in the manner of Pulp with their current album, The Life Pursuit. The former Libertine Carl Bar?s band began the year at a nervy, over-eager pace, and there were signs of that during the opening numbers. His latest gang, though, showed admirable focus and even a little panache as the bassist Didz Hammond played the trumpet opening to their hit single “Bang Bang You’re Dead”. With no Glastonbury this year, however, Wireless had secured a hefty roster, and its opening day was dedicated to louche bearers of the rock’n'roll flame.
Early on, Dirty Pretty Things showed they were coalescing as a live force. And this finest of fine-tuning, as the subsequent performance shows, bears wonderful fruit.

The Tokyo String Quartet’s sequence of concerts at the City of London Festival begins tonight, Middle Temple Hall, London EC4 (0845 120 7502; www.colf ). London enjoyed its own summer-solstice celebration on the year’s longest day. The New York quintet The Strokes were the headline act on the first of the impressive line-ups that constituted the re-energised Wireless Festival. Last June, this inner-city event was a consolation prize for missing out on Somerset’s weekend water-world. Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s impressive captain, has had a huge influence on the fortune of his side in England. England’s chances of retaining the Ashes in Australia this winter received another major blow yesterday when it emerged that the spinner Ashley Giles is in need of further surgery on his troublesome right hip. Each player takes it in turn to suggest changes in approach – in tempo, colour, or emphasis – and each is deferred to, even if the criticism is sharp, with relaxed decorum.

The best players will accept the odd harsh word when they have messed up and often use criticism as motivation. Those who react poorly to an old-fashioned rollicking have not got what it takes. It is therefore hoped that either Strauss or Fletcher do emit a few home truths before Wednesday’s fourth game at Old Trafford because what took place on Saturday was unacceptable.England’s bowling will lead to calls for change, but who should they select? Leicestershire’s Stuart Broad, a highly rated young quick, has a chance of playing against Pakistan in September, as does Gloucestershire’s Jonathan Lewis. Darren Gough’s name will be mentioned, too.Despite these setbacks England should persist with Plunkett and Mahmood. It may not look like it at the moment but they do have what it takes, and it is up to England’s coaching staff to get the best out of them.. Luiz Felipe Scolari is looking to complete his hat-trick over England, and Sven Goran Eriksson, the man who he could so easily have replaced.

After triumphing when leading Brazil in winning the last World Cup and with Portugal on the way to the final of Euro 2004, the two now meet again in Saturday’s quarter-finals. Expectations were high going into this tournament for the Portuguese Maybe too high. After all this is only their fourth World Cup and the first time they have gone beyond the group stages since 1966 But a place in the last eight, at least, was assumed. They have now got that, though England will note that the playmakers Deco and Costinha will not line up against them following their red cards last night.. The rewards were so much better than the manner of the accomplishment.

Sven Goran Eriksson’s team are in the quarter-finals of the World Cup but it took them so long to find their way that they invited despair until a low, swirling free-kick from David Beckham delivered England from a strange kind of inertia. For Beckham, it was a blow struck as he appeared to be at his lowest ebb. Out on the right wing, hands on knees, he coughed, spluttered and threw up and looked to be inviting his own substitution. England had failed to break down an unspectacular Ecuador team in any meaningful way until Beckham found his range from 30 yards.