I'm sure there's lots of reasons Brazil have been shit for a generation, but I can't help think the creeping presence of Bolsanaro whispering evangelical bollocks in the playing cohort is a part of it.

Lord this is tedious. Norway marching up the offensive hill and marching down again, with no desire to put a cross in, nor play through.

Good that the French didn't want to shake their hands of the vile and vicious Paraguay arseholes.

Another wonderful piece from @david-batty.bsky.social, not least for showing how very Enid Blytonesque much of the official narrative on forced adoption has been - and even remains: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

CAno Verde are so, so brave. Their playing out from the back is amazing and terrifying. I think it’s less having enormous balls of steel and more they’re playing without any fear whatsoever

This is a very good, very sincere and full apology from Starmer. In tears here. Thank you.

Thinking of my mother today, who was forced to relinquish me, and lied to by the Catholic Church (who also lied to my adoptive parents). The PM's apology won't undo anything, but is welcome, and needed. 🥚

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WALK OFF YOU FUCKING BELLEND

There's 4 minutes of time added on to still play yet Matterface, as a matter of fact

Refs have been far more in the way of then play than I'm used to seeing.

A really notable difference between African teams in the World Cup and European ones is the ability of the former to hit little chipped balls over opponents to a player out wide. The latter are unwilling to try to find a team mate when there's an opponent between them

should i have an 8.30am ice lolly like for no repost for yes

A puddle of sweat writes: How the bloody hell is Ancelotti managing to pull off a 3-piece suit in 35 degree heat and 95% humidity and not be a puddle of sweat?

In which I opine on Andy Burnham...

Why, guy Mowbray, why was partey refused a entry visa to Canada? #enggha

I'm not saying that this stadium is full of CR7 fans more concerned with taking bloody pictures than actually watching, you know, the kind of people who football can do well without, but there wasn't a chorus of boos at the hydration break just now.

Andy Burnham used to be Chair of the organisation I worked for, Supporters Direct, latterly as CEO. I had to go and meet him in Westminster, in the Pugin tea room. We chatted for a bit but then I could tell from his eyes that someone was moving through the room and was behind my left shoulder.

A rain delay keeping live sport off the screen. Time to show some classics from the Benson and Hedges Trophy from the 1970s. Farouk Engineer and Jack Lord in pitch black Old Trafford and all that

DR Congo are going to be annoyed if they only get a draw against 10-man Portugal.

There's a long history of UK politicians doing absolutely nothing to actively stop loyalist pogroms in Northern Ireland, so Starmer is at least on brand with more than merely his own woeful record of inactivity

Jesus, Everton are as blunt as the knives kitchen in our drawers which we got when we got married 19 years' ago. Fairly solid defensively, but absolutely nothing up front. Are they always this feeble?

I'm so old I can remember when Wes Streeting was squirming under interrogation of his close friendship with Peter Mandelson, but it was at least four weeks ago now so can understand how it might be forgotten

@migueldelaney.bsky.social Just been listening to the pod you did with @jonawils.bsky.social on club ownership. You said regulators weren't switched on to state actors but in a previous life, I met with David Triesman when he was FA Chair in 2008 and the thing he said he worried about most was...

Hilariously, the Premier League's Audit Committee was chaired by Bruce Buck, Chelsea Chairman. Fancy!

🥚 1/x As much as I do learn so much from US-based #adopteesky contributors, the more I read, the more I realise so much of the experience is horrific and really flows from the peculiarly disgusting way the US adoption system/market works

Was watching this old Saint and Greasvie which said Jimmy Greaves used to sweep the Plough Lane terraces with Eddie Reynolds back in 1958 and used to live at the corner of the ground back with his wife. youtu.be/8yn1nku7Sek @daysofspeed.bsky.social @charlietalbot.bsky.social