IT has been eight long weeks since Southampton FC proudly announced they would host England's Euro 2004 international against Macedonia.

And yesterday the wait felt like it was nearly over as Sven-Goran Eriksson's team of superstars finally arrived in Southampton.

Only on Saturday, Saints' Staplewood training ground was the scene for the under-17s to take on their Arsenal counterparts.

But by yesterday afternoon the training ground - and indeed the entire village of Marchwood - had been transformed into the base for Team England, a multi-million pound squad of footballers determined to make up for the disappointment of bowing out to Brazil in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Police cones covered the narrow village lanes, while a huge banner greeted the England team as they arrived for a gentle late afternoon training session overseen by former Liverpool midfielder Sammy Lee and Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren.

A crowd of around 100, mostly locals, crowded around the gates of the training ground in a desperate bid to catch a glimpse of their favourite England stars.

As ever, England captain David Beckham and Saturday's goal hero Michael Owen were most in demand.

Although pushing them hard for media and public attention was Eriksson.

While in Southampton, he faces perhaps the toughest few days of his tenure as national coach due to the publication of extracts from Ulrika Jonsson's diaries.

But yesterday, as ever, the England coach looked completely relaxed and in charge of the situation.

The England team arrived at Marchwood with a police motorbike escort in a huge plush coach covered in the flag of St George.

Yet what must have been the biggest shock for locals was the enormous media presence of photographers, cameramen and journalists from all over the world.

But if the contrast between yesterday and a usual Sunday afternoon in Marchwood was stark, it must have felt like a world away from Bratislava for the players.

True, the weather wasn't much better, but the friendly atmosphere couldn't have been more different from the aggressive cauldron England played out their 2-1 win against Slovakia the night before.

For Wayne Bridge it must have felt particularly good to arrive at Marchwood - his office with Saints since his youth days.

Fans who turned to see the England squad yesterday were certainly in confident mood.

Michael Hammond, from Eastleigh, was among those who brought his young family out in the wind and the rain to catch a glimpse of their football heroes.

He said: "The national team haven't been in Southampton for more than century and it's possible it won't happen again in my lifetime.

"It is a fabulous achievement by Southampton FC to be selected to host an international and I want to make sure I see as much of the England team as I possibly can while they are here."

His 12-year-old son, Jack, added: "My favourite players are David Beckham and Wayne Bridge and I wanted to try and get a few autographs.

"I saw some of them come off the bus so I am delighted."

Craig Simmonds, from Marchwood, added: "We are used to footballers around the village with Saints, but the interest today is on a different level to anything I have ever seen.

"There are police and press everywhere. Some locals might say it's a bit of a pain, but most of us think it is a great honour to be the home of the England team."

Former England midfielder Ray Wilkins predicted England would benefit from the warm welcome in Southampton and the plush surrounds of Saints' St Mary's stadium.

"St Mary's is like a bowling rink compared to Bratislava and the atmosphere will be much different in Southampton - I'm confident of a good victory," he said.