England Expects: Portsmouth and the FA Cup Final

Horatio Nelson's famous signal just before the start of the Battle of Trafalgar has a great deal of symbolism for Portsmouth supporters ahead of the FA Cup Final in just a few mere hours. Those of us who support the team from the home of the Royal Navy are well aware of the expectations that are before us, but I can tell you that I speak for most when I write that we are all more than a little nervous.

But should we be? After all, as the media and the bookies are quick to point out, we are the Premiership side.

Sure, this is the first time we've been to the final since "the Spanish Civil War ended, Siam changed it's name to Thailand," etc etc blah blah blah. What's that all for? Am I supposed to be biting my nails because it's been so long?

The concern of supporters and pundits alike, however, has been our back line's lack of concentration from set pieces as of late. All season long, Portsmouth has recieved great praise towards our outstanding back four for the role they have played in our very good season.

The past few games, however, they have definitely been at fault for letting a few more hit the back of the net than they should have. Is it down to complacency? Probably. Is it "cup jitters?" Doubtful—as Sol Campbell aptly stated this past week, we've plenty of members of the squad who have played on the world's biggest stages plenty of times before, and many who have the silverware to prove it.

In fact, of the players expected to start tomorrow—James, Hreidarsson, Campbell, Distin, Johnson, Muntari, Kranjcar, Diarra, Diop, Utaka, and Kanu—we have players who have been in and won the Champions League final, five players previously from the "big four" in England, and players who have had the opportunity to represent their country—multiple times—in the World Cup finals. Including David James, Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson, and Lauren.

The problem for Portsmouth is not the back line; it is the men up front.

Sure, pundits have pointed this out over the past few weeks, and the fact that we failed to score more than one goal in our last four league games is very telling. And with Jermain Defoe ineligible, all of the pressure has been on our ability to score.

Will it be a concern for us? There is certainly a good chance that is true. But when Reading came to Fratton Park towards the beginning of the season for that now-infamous 7-4 thriller, I had similar concerns about our scoring woes then, too.

So did everyone.

Do I expect a goal bonanza tomorrow? No, I don't. But I do expect to see a very different Portsmouth team than we saw against Fulham. And Middlesbrough. And Blackburn. And Manchester City. The experience in our side will be telling at kickoff.

What's more, for those who followed our pre-season adventure to Hong Kong and saw us lift the Barclay's Asia Trophy, there was one man then who proved the difference between us and Liverpool. And I'm betting he's going to be the difference again tomorrow.

David James. On his third start in an FA Cup final and after the season of his life, still searching for something more than a runner's up medal.

James and Kranjcar are going to be the keys to Portsmouth's game today. If James is focused and Kranjcar is able to get into the game, the rest of the squad will follow.

Now, after all that, I think I'll go back to biting my nails and the reality that this is, quite possibly, the game of many Portsmouth supporter's lifetime.