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, 28 June 2014

They Finished 16th: CHILE

Unlucky to be popping home over the border so early. A draw against the hosts was always going to be tricky. They could have beaten most of the other teams through to the round of 16, but not the hosts. Even though they took them to penalties, you can't knock the hosts out this early. Not when the hosts are Brazil.

But Chile will have thrilled many a neutral here. Attack-minded, never over-awed, always truly believing they could win it, consistently well-supported, and with a iconic manager strolling the sideline, waiting to get back on the weights in the gym.

The thickness of a crossbar denied them an historic win in the Round Of 16. But they performed far better than when both sides met at the same stage, with the same British ref, of the 2010 World Cup.