Brazil, you say? They know how to play football over there, don't they? But it's a long way for one so middle aged as I to travel.

So instead, I shall slouch into my leather armchair and view the tournament from this side of the Atlantic. I shall try and watch every game and will definitely make wildly inaccurate predictions too.

I do solemnly vow to give you a real sense of what it's like to not be at the World Cup. This is the blog where all the colour and atmosphere and passion of watching the world's greatest sporting tournament on a wall mounted widescreen really comes to life.

Friday 27 June 2014

GROUP H DECIDERS: Belgium 1-0 South Korea ; Russia 1-1 Algeria

Big shout out to Algeria for making it through to the knockout stage. Didn't see that one coming, but there's been a lot of surprises and surprisingly good performances from unexpected quarters during this World Cup, and you can add Algeria to that list. A worthy draw with the Russians, hosts of the next tournament in 2018.

Belgium did as many predicted and won the group, after a shaky start, they steadied themselves, and finished with a narrow victory over a disappointing South Korea.