This Fella has proved point
Oh em glee, it might actually be coming home.
England – despite not yet producing a performance above 6/10 – are in the World Cup semi-finals.
While they debate a bank holiday down south, a similar break will be necessary north of the border – but for mourning.
The English are now 5/2 to win the World Cup, behind France (2/1) and Belgium (12/5) in the betting.
Harry Kane, meanwhile, is an absolute certainty to win the Golden Boot at 1/9. This despite two thirds of his goals coming from the penalty spot.
For anyone who doesn’t support the Three Lions – and I have a funny feeling that may be a majority of readers – England’s mediocrity must be even more frustrating.
So let’s talk about someone else who has well and truly punched above their weight this tournament as a world beater. Marouane Fellaini. Against Japan, he was a game changer. But subs can do that.
Against Brazil, he was more Samba star than anyone in gold.
The Manchester United totem pole – scary head included – gets plenty of abuse but was positively graceful in helping the Belgians to the semis.
He gets a similar amount of stick from the Old Trafford faithful but what defender would want to see that afro lumbering up for a set-piece every few minutes? Nobody.
Now, he must inspire them against France in a tie which really should be the final.
We make Les Bleus the narrow favourites but I think this could be the last time football is the winner in this tournament.
Two titans of the world game going head to head. Mbappe vs Hazard. Griezmann against De Bruyne.
And, yes, Pogba vs the big Fella.
Whoever goes through, I can’t see Romelu Lukaku or Olivier Giroud being too anxious about the prospect of an England backline.
Not least because no one cares about the third place play-off.
Paddy Power himself told me at the start of the tournament that he hoped England would win the World Cup.
Easy to say when you’re used to a lifetime of English failures.
Right about now, though, I’m not sure quite how enthused Paddy is.
He has started talking about Ireland’s triple crown in the Six Nations this year, and Italia 90, a lot unprompted overnight.
Still, it puts Wales’ smugness from the Euros into perspective, doesn’t it?