Quit World Cup squad over a tattoo? Really? Another classic example of how English press can’t stop themselves pressing the ’don’t press’ button

David Hopkin’s e from departur n didn’t come Livingsto –butwithout surprise as a to, it job to go a specific either great for doesn’t look isto blame Hardasit of them. of just reeks him, this for g your stock protectin n, going dow fear of it trying to rather than raise it. Even allowing for the hypocrisy of Rangers criticising for conducting business through their statement the media via to the media, a managing to the SPFL are turn the spat Murdoch MacLennan over chairman They’ve been into a debacle. see suckered into as a non- issue making what to into a war. they downplay Celtic And their attempt stakeholders as mere ‘two-per-cent’ is as Again, though, disingenuous you as they come. highly-paid have to ask and why isn’t their much-vaunted executive dealing chief And why, with this? a whole season appointed after the figurehead, being MacLennan himself has a word yet to utter in public on his role? them in Russia. He’s trying hard to create a feelgood factor but finding out the hard way that he has such a joyless bunch preying on him and his players.

This only makes his life exponentially harder. And when England fail, he’ll be lectured on why he should have left Sterling at home because of the disruption caused, when the snipers caused it in the first place.

This almost felt like the time they’d resist, that they had finally understood the value of setting the bar low.

Until they realised they could just take the bar and clatter them over the head with it.

In the end they’ll get what they deserve, even if Sterling doesn’t.