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.

Monday, 30 June 2014

Round of 16: Holland 2-1 Mexico

There's nothing worse than being on the wrong end of a last few minutes turnaround in the score. Mexico are the unlucky ones this time.

They looked like they'd overcome the hoodoo that has seen them fall at the first knockout stage of the last five major tournaments.  Then Sneijder struck, low and hard beyond the reach of the tournament's top keeper.

All set for extra time then. But Robben had other ideas. The penalty box is a swimming pool to this guy, and once again he dived in it. Sure, he was clipped a little bit, but not to the extent that it would have felled him. But like a tree he fell, the resulting penalty dispatched, a nation in green disbelieving.  Six.