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Dzyuba the Russian

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It has begun.

This morning I systematically disabled all means of accidentally finding out football scores. Every notification on my phone has been disabled (including messaging - sorry friends/family/child-minder). Likewise on the iPad. The Alexa device has a virtual sock stuffed in her mouth, and my workmates have been sternly warned. 

The groundwork is done. 

I even walked immediately out of a pub this afternoon, having spotted the existence of a screen showing football that I fully intended to watch, as live, from the very start. Discipline is what this tournament is all about.

And so I've just finished watching Russia vs Saudi Arabia, on a delay which is to be my recipe for the tournament, essentially living about 7 hrs separated from reality. I am in my own World Cup time-zone and I love it. 

Russia won their opening match at a canter, outperfoming KSA as comprehensively as Aida Garifullina outsang Robbie Williams in the opening ceremony. They were direct, eager and not without skill; in contrast to the turgid KSA display, which was really a masterclass in fannying about. 

Dzyuba is my new favourite player. A 6 foot 5 beast of unhingedness. A few nice goals and a decent good feeling to start the tournament. Even Putin appeared friendly and positive.

Predictions wise, I can offer the following retaliation to Stevie's stabs in the dark.

World Champs:  France  - Deschamps, rather than hitting the dole office will, I think be held aloft by his team in a month.s time 

Top Scorer: Suarez - is going to tear the Saudis apart and win the Golden Boot before the group stage is done.

Emerging Star: Rashford, there, I said it.

Implosion of the tournament: Croatia - touted to have possibly the best midfield (Rakitic, Modric, Peresic, Kovacic)in the tournament, I've a feeling it will all go a bit weird for them in a potentially sticky group 

Coaching fail of the tournament: Martinez - He's going to wear overly warm looking tank tops throughout, and steer Belgium to yet another golden generation disappointment, making it no further than the quarters. 

Surprise of the tournament: Serbia - from nowhere, will progress

Scandal of the tournament: Russian doping - 100% agree with Stevie here, and there's evidence already - at half time their team had run about 15% more than the Saudis.

Non-scandal of the tournament: VAR - we might discover that actually it corrects a few errors rather than creates its own storm. 

Unnecessary political sh*tshow: Trump. He's still PUSA for the duration of the tournament right? So whether it is charity embezzlement, starting/stopping nuclear meltdown with alternate breaths or just existing, the shit-show prize is already his. 

As for a 2026 tour of the North American continent....sounds amazing...I'll bring my boy's Panini Album Stevie.....




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