It’s been alright this World Cup, hasn’t it?
Aside from the diving, a few bad tackles, and most recently, the biting incident, we’ve seen entertaining attacking football, a few upsets and rule changes working.
Prior to the tournament, I picked Brazil to win, Belgium to impress and England to not do so well. I also highlighted Chile as my dark horses, so it’s a little unfortunate for me that they meet Brazil later today.
If Chile produce their best they have what it takes to beat Brazil and I fancy them for the upset. Brazil are the team under pressure and they had a slightly easier group to come through than Chile.
I didn’t share the optimism of many after England lost to Italy. I didn’t, and still don’t think we are good enough at the highest level. Compare the first touch, passing and awareness of our players to most other teams and we come a distant second.
I don’t have the solution but it’s unreasonable to expect us to be winning major tournaments, or even making much of an impression on them.
We just aren’t good enough. We qualify well, would beat the majority of teams in Europe but are found wanting against the top sides.
Unlike cricket and rugby, where England are one of the best sides in the world, there should be no great disappointment when we lose to an Italy, or a Uruguay.
We have every right to be disappointed when Alastair Cook’s men can’t see off Sri Lanka or Stuart Lancaster’s side can’t win a Test against New Zealand.
But we probably ought to be beating Costa Rica. And so should Italy, for that matter.
Twice in a row now Italy have failed to get out of the group stages but while I expect them to be much improved come Euro 2016, I wouldn’t waste your money betting on England to have made the strides forward they need to.
France, Belgium and Germany will be the teams to watch in two years time.
By which time, Luis Suárez might be letting his football do the talking, rather than his disciplinary problems. He has done himself no favours by trying to defend his actions, while the Uruguayan team and FA have not helped by protecting him and claiming he is a ‘scapegoat’.
This is the third time he’s bitten an opponent. He needs help, not protection or being treated like a hero wronged by the establishment. Beckham was villified by English fans in 1998 for far less – there was no hero’s welcome for him.
Sometimes, you have to be cruel to be kind. And you have to be big enough to say ‘I was wrong, I apologise.’
Then you can move on.