A Sticker's Worth 500 Words

With the World Cup behind us Rich Allinson is here to muse about the future of English football following the most recent failure of the men’s team to bring it home. This blog’s WhatsApp group over the last few weeks is evidence that the world needs more of our excellent punditry. Five minutes before today’s subject briefly inspired a nation I told the lads that “Gordon has been awful. Getting closed down very quickly but doesn’t have a Scooby when it happens.” If anything England needed more defenders on the pitch. Over to Rich with some more insightful analysis. Now that the dust has started to settle on the rejected immigration visa applications, the hydration break drinks bottles and Donald Trump’s FIFA speed dial handset, my mind is already looking ahead to the next World Cup and whether England will, to use a modern phrase, finally get over the line. I caveat this with the hope that I am wrong, but it very much feels like 2026 could be the end of the road for England reaching the...

The last time the World Cup was hosted in the United States the players had more to battle than their opponents and a nation with little love for the sport they call soccer. Temperatures soared during June and July, touching forty degrees for some games, which might provide some explanation for the likes of Roberto Baggio , Dan Petrescu and Diana Ross fluffing their lines from the penalty spot. For the Republic of Ireland team the heat even hit on the sidelines with John Aldridge famously getting hot and bothered and Steve Staunton donning a baseball cap to stave off the sun during the national anthems. No doubt this summer’s edition will see similar headwear on show owing to the winning combination of sweltering heat and the host’s penchant for using his own to remind him of what nonsense he’s going to spout. While baseball caps have become en vogue for everyone from roadmen to East London parents they have been an increasingly rare sight on the football pitch. In the early days, wh...