Seemingly without build-up, the World Cup is upon us, and despite being a symbol of both football's corruption and the ills of humanity, I just can't help myself from being excited. The tournament has every chance of being, in footballing terms, one of the best yet. Players in peak fitness, form and rhythm, in-tournament travel virtually non-existent (remember the last Euros, 'sponsored by travel sores'), mild but not absurd weather and presumably very shiny facilities. We already know it's had a lot of money thrown at it (in all the wrong ways) and we can safely assume it will have everything thrown at ensuring it is presented positively. From a footballing perspective, its mouth watering. I love football too much to boycott the tournament as a viewer or a blogger, but I am also mindful that others will look at me and people who share my views with disdain - blinkered, insensitive to the bigger issues at play, and generally being the gullible detergent in the spor...
View and opinion on the FIFA World Cup from both sides of the Atlantic. We know England won't win, but deep down there's that glimmer of hope.