Wembley's

The FA would not discuss the finances in detail, but David Thomson, the man charged by the FA with orchestrating the event when Wembley was awarded the final two years ago, said the fixture represents a chance to justify the investment, and prove Wembley's status.

Wembley gets its chance to shine at Champions League final 2011

Four years after it re-emerged from a notoriously fraught rebuilding process, Wembley's showcase moment has arrived.

Wembley gets its chance to shine at Champions League final 2011

But the plot has moved on with the England debacle in South Africa and the eradication of Wembley's hopes of staging a World Cup final in our lifetimes.

Advance of the Premier League has rendered English football impotent | Paul Hayward 2011

Finding a way to prevent the strapping South Sydney centre running wild in Wembley's wide open spaces in the first rugby league international at the stadium for 14 years will be one of many daunting tasks confronting McNamara's team this week.

Jack Reed and England prepare to face Greg Inglis and Australia 2011

Club football's most prestigious game is expected to be worth around £30m to London's economy, but how much the FA will receive towards decreasing Wembley's £757m rebuilding cost is unclear.

Wembley gets its chance to shine at Champions League final 2011

The FA has been forced to strike a difficult balance between maintaining Wembley's cash flows in order to meet the loan repayments due on the money borrowed to build it and answering criticism from players, managers and executives over the state of the pitch.

World Cup 2010: England prepare for pitch battle against Slovenia 2010

The agreement with Desso means that Wembley's long-standing relationship with Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), which is advising on all the World Cup pitches in South Africa, will end.

World Cup 2010: England prepare for pitch battle against Slovenia 2010

That, however, depends on Wembley's management continuing to fill the stadium for a packed programme of concerts and football matches.

World Cup 2010: Why hard-up FA needed to strike gold in South Africa 2010

The FA has a duty of care, and Wembley's loose turf exposes players to the risk of unnecessary injury.

Riot of goals makes compelling case for the defence 2010

But the idea's defenders say it is small beer set against the success in having generated the new Wembley's best atmosphere to date? and one that might just encourage new fans to follow the national team in future.

Peter Ridsdale and the missing £500,000 2010