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, 16 June 2014

Italy 2-1 England

Italy's one hundred per cent record of victories over England in major tournaments now extends to four games. It's beginning to look like a hoodoo.

But few could/would/should argue that a draw would have been a fair result.

England looked sparkier, faster, younger and a few other adjectives ending in 'er' than they have in many a major tournament. They had a go, but in the end lacked the class of finish that Balotelli showed for their opponents.

Can England play as well against Uruguay? Can Uruguay play as badly? Unlikely on both counts. I think we're going home, we're going home, we're going...