GOOD WEEK THE SCREAM

NOT Edvard Munch’s 19th century masterpiece but the penalty area howl towards the referee.

In the good old days with crowds, footballers used the dive as their primary means of winning an undeserved penalty but the new normal of silent stadia brings new opportunities it appears.

Thomas Delaney’s piercing yelp persuaded referee Jesus Gil Manzano to upgrade a nothing incident into a spot-kick and gave Denmark victory over

England, stopping the momentum of the Three Lions’ win over Belgium in its tracks.

England’s victory over the world’s No.1 side had, in turn, owed a debt of thanks to the penalty won by Jordan Henderson (above) through his agonised shout and tumble after what looked like the gentlest of touches by Thomas Meunier.

With no VAR in either game and no fan noise to drown out the players’ screams, the officials allowed the assault on their ears to override the evidence of their eyes.