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.

Saturday 21 June 2014

They Finished 29th: ENGLAND

A useless generation, or a tournament too soon for a squad that will bring glory to a nation starved of it for nearly half a century?

Expectations were low, but one point from three games represents a lower return than many expected. The performance against Italy was impressive. England have played much worse and won before, so to lose  was disheartening. Broke the back of a squad low on confidence. Uruguay and Suarez and that back header merely iced a stale cake.

0-0 against Costa Rica, group winners and conquerors of both Italy and Uruguay looks respectable. But England failed to excite. They will not be missed. They deserve to be where they are.  Back home, licking their wounds, wondering how to end the hurt.