The World Cup will soon be upon us.....

[Ron Obvious]

1. I'm not as stoked about the World Cup as I have been in previous years

Maybe I'm just getting old and cynical. In any case, I will still be disappearing from public view for a month just like every four years.

I don't know that I have a clear favourite in mind for the whole thing. France maybe? Brazil? Not Argentina who are top heavy (Messi et al), but too weak in the back.

I'll go with Germany.

Surprise team? Since Mo Salah is apparently going to be fit, I'm going with Egypt. I like Mo Salah. Iceland would be fun.

I think Belgium will be a flop. No particular reason -- I just think their players are overrated and Martinez isn't up for this job. For some reason I find Hazard in particular the most unmemorable player ever. He's shown occasional interesting moves, but I never remember them or him. I can barely recall what he looks like. I'm also hoping Portugal and Ronaldo flop for karma's sake after the Euros from two years ago. Dreadful team, dreadful players.

As for England, out on penalties in the quarter finals, of course.

I also predict VAR as currently implemented will be awful, the Vuvuzelas of football refereeing.