England for the World Cup

I must apologise for not having published a post for the last day or two. As you may have guessed by the consistent rubbish content, I am a lone author who is just trying to get to grips with this blogging business and at times things get on top of me.

There are not many subjects in which I am not interested and am only too eager to have a rant about - yes you've got it - and I do tend to jump in feet first before my brain is in gear.

Yes...feet first... and this leads nicely to the subject which is trending well at the moment...THE WORLD CUP.

Even those who have never been to a soccer ground and have no time for the over-paid so called stars whose brains seem to be in their feet, will not be able to resist an occasional peek at what is going on in Brazil.

Have you seen any of the opening matches? If so what do you think of it so far? I've been surprised by the number of goals that have been scored.

In most World Cups the first few games are usually dour hard-fought no score draws or maybe a team might inflict a one nil threshing on the opposition. I don't know what's going on this year! Who could possibly have forecast that a repeat of the 2010 final would have produced a five one result?

What hasn't changed is that there is going to be a good smattering of useless referees who will do their utmost to ruin what could be a superb football tournament.

I think that too many of these guys see refereeing not 'as a way to put something back into the game' - which of course they will insist is the case - but as a way in which they can get on first name terms with the stars and exercise dominance over them.

The very first match needed a referee to ensure that the hosts weren't embarrassed by an ordinary European team and in so many cases of poor decisions it always seems that the underdogs will be penalised. NOTHING CHANGES!

Anyway what about our great English side? Are YOU going to burn the midnight oil tonight? I think you shouldn't miss seeing us play Italy live if only to watch the players sing God Save The Queen.

No seriously, I hope Roy's team plays out of its collective skin and that we won't hear our knowledgeable pundits say 'nine times out of ten he'd have scored that' when what they really meant was that 'nine times out of ten he could normally be relied on to do what he's just done.'

Come on let's get behind the lads and hope they return our confidence by emulating the boys of '66 - or at least tonight, taking the first step.