WORLD CUP’S LAND OF THE RISING SON

Who says football isn’t educational?

In the last three weeks my eight-year-old has learned to pinpoint Panama and Peru on a map and worked out goal differences more complex than the Pythagoras theorem.

Although it seems there’s still work to be done.

“I’m pleased Belgium’s through,” he said on Monday night. “But I’m sorry for the Japananians.”