Get over yourself, Gianni

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, clapping above his head as if acknowledging the applause of the crowd like a player, seemed to be under the strong impression that supporters were welcoming him personally on to the pitch to present the bronze medals to Belgium after their victory over England. At least he wasn’t booed like his predecessor Sepp Blatter was in 2014.

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players v press darts shootout before every press conference at the England media centre became a metaphor for the improved relationship between the often warring sides. The dartboard is to be signed by the 11 players who took part and auctioned with the proceeds going to a Football Writers’ Association charity. However the FA, despite working so hard on breaking down the barriers between the squad and media, do not think the journalists’ signatures on the board would increase the value.

EVEN a peak audience of 8.3m on ITV should not deflect FIFA from kicking the bronze medal match into the long grass like UEFA after the 1980 European Championship. When a considered football man like Gareth Southgate talks about the difficulty of preparing his team for the match and that he would have preferred to go home after losing the semi-final, it’s time for a change.

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social media manager Jim Lucas, who posted his letter from Gareth Southgate on Twitter, wasn’t the only member of the England support team to receive one. Every member of the backroom staff and players had a personal missive handwritten by Southgate and pictures of their family waiting for them in their room when they arrived at the England hotel base in Repino.