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.

Wednesday, 25 June 2014

GROUP A DECIDERS: Cameroon 1-4 Brazil ; Croatia 1-3 Mexico

South American teams seem to love playing tournaments in South America. That figures I guess. But I foolishly thought Cameroon would overcome the jinx that has seen them fail to get out of the Group stages for four World Cups. They never looked likely, and Brazil put them to the sword in their final game. The Mexicans join them in the knockouts, their manager's diving sideline celebration a definite tournament highlight.