Futtocks

And that shows how there's no way to satisfy everyone. Many posters over the years have bemoaned the fact that there's no RL on TV at the traditional time of 3pm on a Sunday. Whatever you do, someone will be furious, or at least pretend to be furious because that's what they feel they should be doing.

How long 'til someone finds a negative in that?

If we are merely recalling past glories, then Hungary would be favourites for the cup. What we have now is an imploding Argentina, a Germany who are desperately trying to get things together, a France, Belgium and Brazil who might yet turn out to be more than the sum of their parts, plus a very satisfied England and a couple of former Soviet Bloc countries to fancy their chances. Plus Generalissimo Vlad's own team, and while God knows what'll happen to their opposition in the knock-out stages, I'd certainly suggest avoiding the sushi.

Finally watching the match in full, and have got to half time. Fantastic stuff! And I have more than a little bit of a crush on Kezie Apps. A great all-round talent.

Not even jest; if it requires us to pretend that the whole idea of pushing the game in the USA originated in Sydney, in order for serious effort to make it work, I'll keep my lips tight and congratulate them if that's what it takes. Sometimes, you need the right thing to be done, even if the reasons are wrong.

If Australia v Tonga in New York happens and delivers good-looking numbers, the NRL will fire all their current medical experts, hire a new mob who think that long-haul air flights are the latest innovation in sports conditioning... and pretend that yesterday's match in Denver never happened, so they can portray themselves as the innovators bringing the gospel of Rugby League to the USA.

Here's one of my favourite food writers, Marina O'Loughlin, enthusing about Correze - a part of France whose name I'd never even heard before: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/corr-ze-marina-o-loughlin-on-france-s-unsung-foodie-region-gv2q7c7d0

Think of what are known as "structured reality" shows. Broadcasters don't like leaving anything to chance.

It was a few World Cups ago that Danny Baker & Danny Kelly found themselves a few rows behind a very attractive girl in national colours who would leap up, wave her arms and make a scene at times unconnected with the action on the field. This young lady appeared regularly on the big screen, so they came to the conclusion that she was wearing a wire and was placed there, along with others, to provide one of the "honey shots" when things got a bit dull in the match. I wouldn't be even faintly surprised to find that their theory was correct.

Yes, Andres Escobar. A sad tale. Also sad is that tonight's match is in Kazan, which used to have a pretty decent Rugby League team, Strela, before the schism, selfishness and stupidity in the Russian game saw them switch codes.

Just like Dorian Gray, the portrait in Jermaine Jenas' attic must look like absolute hell by now.

I have to say I agree. This was a long way short of what I've seen from Down Under in the women's game.

Not just (admittedly) snobbery, but also the memories of sweetened gutrot, from the days before you could actually choose different countries and grape varieties, even in a corner shop. And the weather is currently warm enough that I don't need any anti-freeze in my bloodstream: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_diethylene_glycol_wine_scandal

Amazingly, that stuff's still around. Maybe they have reformulated it and it is a really good bottle of bargain plonk these days, but I can't bring myself to find out. What would people think if they saw me put that on the conveyor belt at the supermarket? 😨

Padgate Excelsior? Boy oh boy, did they opt for the wrong name for the merged entity!