NOT FAST ENOUGH, NOW

As the new season beckons, some famous names will be missing from club team sheets. Ryan Giggs is one of the high profile retirees. Finally hanging up his boots on 19 May 2014, Giggs at 40, former Manchester United and Wales winger made a record number of appearances for his club and won 22 major trophies as a player, more than any other in English football. Equal oldest to retire after the end of the last season is Kevin Phillips, who has made a number of telling performances in a variety of clubs, and Jason Roberts MBE, for services to sport, at 36 and Danny Higginbotham, 35, a Gibraltar international, are mere youngsters comparatively. Harry Kewell spent the latter stages of his career at home in Australia where he finished playing for Melbourne Heart. Kewell was recently voted his country's greatest footballer. Craig Bellamy bows out at 34, whereas Wayne Bridge and Park Jin Sung, finish at 33. Jin Sung made 100 appearances for South Korea. All these have made major contributions to national and international football and will no doubt have an influence on our football in the next few years in different guises.

TOO FAST FOR FOOTBALL

Adam Gemili has given athletic fans hope for the future after his silver medal run at Hampden Park yesterday. And what a nice young man he appears to be. Team mates at Dagenham and Redbridge FC, where Adam thought he might have a chance of a professional career, said he only had one speed; very fast-not necessarily ideal for football! Spotted by Chelsea at the age of eight, he spent seven years being coached by Eddie Newton, he but decided not to sign formally, when he realised he would have to change his education by cutting his days at school and not doing GCSEs properly. Later he shunned an offer from Reading so that he could complete a BTEC course at Dagenham College. Adam maintained his interest in football at Dagenham and Redbridge early in 2011, under John Still and then he played 11 full games at Thurrock on loan. In June 2011 he joined Blackheath and Bromley AC and a month later he was competing at the European junior championships in Talinn and by December he gave up his plan to play full time for the Daggers and the rest is history. He said that he only joined the athletics club to get fit for football.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES SEND SCOTTISH OLDEST TEAM TO AIRDRIE

Queen's Park Football Club is based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club is currently the only fully amateur club in the Scottish Professional Football League and is the oldest association football club in Scotland, having been founded in 1867. Queen's Park is also the only Scottish football club to have played in the FA Cup Final, in 1884 and 1885. The club's home is a UEFA Category five star plus stadium, the all-seated Hampden Park in South East Glasgow, which is also the home of the Scottish national team. Queen's Park has won the Scottish Cup the third most times of any club, behind Celtic and Rangers. These victories came in the early years of the competition when QPFC were regarded as the leaders in their field, rather like the historic Corinthians and The Wanderers in England, from the 19th century. Indeed the Scottish national side was occasionally made up entirely by players from the one club! 

'Hampden' is one of the great homes of football and celebrated its centenary on 31 October 2003. The stadium also houses the offices of the Scottish Football Association.

Hampden Park was the largest stadium in the world until 1950, when the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro was completed. After the release of the Taylor Report in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, among other football tragedies, Hampden Park was converted to an all-seater. The current capacity is 52,025, although Queen's Park's average league attendance is around 750.

Outside of Hampden Park sits a smaller, lesser known ground called Lesser Hampden, a 3G pitch, where the club's youth teams play. Due to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Queen's Park has had to move its home games to Airdrieonian's Excelsior Stadium.

FREDRICKSTAD SHOW HOW THE GAME IS SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYED

On the border of Norway and Sweden lies Fredrickstad, a town named after a king and once rich in timber and ships. By April 1903 the local workers tried to get football going but it took three attempts include a lost ball dispatched inaccurately on to a passing train to Moss, before the club was established. An industrialist from England, HW Kenworthy, lived in Sarpsborg and he produced an opposition for Fredrickstad in 1904 and 600 spectators turned up to see this new venture. It was spring so the weather was decent and the Swedes were not distracted by skiing. In fact Fredrickstad (now to be known as FFC) were unusual in the country since there were no other sports to compete with football. FFC remained casual amateurs rather in the Corinthians style and they were renowned for playing the game " how it was supposed to be played", a quote from manager Jorgen Juve in 1932. In 1960 the club thumped Ajax in the old European Cup and it was not until the 21st century that FFC turned serious professionals. Knut Turbjorn Eggen was responsible for guiding his new team into professionalism and in their centenary year, FFC won a promotion back to the Premier division. In 2007 the club moved ground to a shipyard site on the River Glooma and built a charming MK Dons style stadium which holds 12,500. This should have helped the club but they have yo-yo'd between Division 1 and the top and at present are in Div 1. FFC has won the main league and cup 9 times. They also have a Museum on the ground and two old industrial buildings have been incorporated into the major stands along each touch line. In December 2011 they club was raided and investigated in the Raio Piiroja scandal. It all seems to have quietened down now. Hopefully,  FFC may not court anymore controversy, although long journeys are clearly going to upset the accountant.

UWE ROSLER-WHERE NEXT?

Stavanger are 7th in the Tippeligaen with a game in hand. Founded in 1899 when the whale industry wasn't just a load of blubber, Viking FC have been prominent in Norse football. The Dark Blues, an inventive nickname, play in a 16,500 capacity stadion (Norse) and have been champions 8 times and cup winners 5. Their great achievement was the surprise knock out of Chelsea (yes, more dark blues) in the 2002-3 UEFA cup. Uwe Rosler managed Viking in 2007-9 but known as a journeyman footballer, he moved on quickly. So far Uwe has played for 13 clubs including Man City, The Saints (see previous blog) and WBA and previously manager of 4 clubs including Brentford, he now looks after Wigan. Lets hope he wont be a flash in the pan or upset his peers. Get it??

BRANN BERGEN TIPPELIGAEN

The tall ships arrive in Bergen in a few days and we shall miss them. The city is getting ready for this carnival when massive sailing vessels from many seafaring nations will replace the ferries, cruise ships and commercial vessels presently loitering in this beautiful fjord, spanned by bridges and undercut by tunnels. It took years for the Hindhead Tunnel to relieve the A3 of it's almost notorious bottleneck and who knows how long for the Humber to be spanned, yet here is a sea faring nation, with a minuscule population, digging tunnels over 20 Km's long and crossing seas as though they didn't exist.

Like their road construction, Norway bats above its average, with a really decent FIFA rating and many moments of embarrassing England! remember Mrs Thatcher, Winston Churchill and Graham Taylor?

Bergen has a decent football team playing in the Top league-see title. Founded in 1908, Brann has won the top division three times in its history (the league was founded in 1937-8) and came 8th last season. Other Bergen clubs include Fyllingsdalen (no, not the golf balls on the Yorkshire moors) it's a new club formed when two failing clubs merged and Fana, who play at the second level known as the Addeccoligaen. Brann2 and Asane also play in the Norwegian league.

Ladies teams from Arna-Bjonar, Sandvicken and Asane compete at the higher levels in the Women's leagues as do Fart, Vang but I have not researched them or their origins.

Bergen, rich in oil, fish and timber is benefiting from its recent acquisitions from the North Sea. Norwegians are working 23% fewer hours than before the oil boom! taking more holidays, having more sick leave and retiring earlier. As Bergen is booming, Norway needs to spend its wealth wisely before the supplies run out; you should see the infrastructure in estment. There is much to consider; Brann may suddenly find a rich oil investor or fish magnet to lift them into Champions League status. Do you know who is representing Norway in the CL this season? I found this road sign in the city today which bans football. Yet on the other side of the road in that alley, footy IS allowed by law!,

THE CHAPS ARE BACK, MUM'S GOT THE KIT TO WASH

I have been wandering through the Gothia results to see which English team progressed furthest. The South Central prep schools always do well and one U13 team reached the 1/4 finals. Another SC U14 prep side reached the 1/8, with Bath and Wilts FA, who seemed to spend a lot of their social time in school uniform but they looked very smart, if a little frazzled. Guildford Saints from the local Surrey Sunday youth leagues had a terrific run reaching the U16A quarters. Barnes Eagles had a similar run in the U18 A play off, whilst the Berks College of Agriculture (ooo arrr) won into the U18 B last eight.

Swindon Town ladies in their B play off, in the U19 competition and Plymouth Argyle in the As, reached their 1/4 and ladies from  Brighton and Hove Albion and Burnley College were in 1/8 play offs. The girls football standard at Gothia is very high, with Swedish teams and the US dominating. 

Other boys teams came from as far afield as Weston Super Mare, Scarborough, Guernsey and Regents Park, whilst well travelled, did not venture as far in the knock outs as they hoped. In the middle of fjord country, deepest Norway, I found this cracking pitch right by the sea (fjord you know the difference). It's got a track round it and unsurprisingly it is next to the local school, They play anywhere, they have to and a special word to our mums? Thanks!!

HE GETS EVERYWHERE

We were walking back from a four hour hike in the Vettifossen valley which reputedly has the highest (longest) single drop waterfall in Norway. Locals claim this means, therefore in Europe. I am not going to argue because when I stood on top and looked down, I was impressed. Anyway, two lovely Norse gals strode towards us one in a purple vest the other in a Southampton FC shirt. I made a comment, they stopped and my wife allowed me to talk to them. David Howells immediately got a mention by me and the other girl in purple added that she was a Spurs fan. We bonded! So the Saint knew about DH and James Beattie and showed me a photo of her as a youngster with Matt Le Tiss in kit! She didnt seem that old. She has been over to Emgland to watch and also saw SFC play in Norway. I told her to look up David on the web and make contact with him-I said he would arrange sonething special for her and her chum at Spurs??

Next stop Bergen

THREE SIDES IN FINAL COUNTDOWN

Since three local independent schools were knocked out yesterday, the coaches got together and arranged a friendly tourney today with English referees. There were no incidents! and Charterhouse drew with Tonbrdge 1-1 and narrowly lost to Hampton 0-1, who claimed the title of Losers' winners. Meanwhile I am now heading to the fjords.

HARROW AND TONBRIDGE BOW OUT OF GOTHIA

Both Tonbridge and Harrow schools would claim to be more interested in the oval shaped ball than the round one, but each school is developing a fine reputation in the gentleman's game of soccer. Both 1st XIs play in the ISFA cup and have given good accounts of themselves. Both sets of old boys'  team also stand up well in the historic Arthurian league and Arthur Dunn Cup. So it is no surprise that each school gains success at Gothia and this year they managed to get themselves through to the final 32 in the U16 age groups, eventually losing out in the early games on Thursday. Harrow, having come through in the penalty shoot out with Charterhouse yesterday, were no match for their Swedish opponents, whilst Tonbridge also were not able to maintain their excellent record, losing to another Swedish team. What ever the result ,both teams have down their coaches proud.

Other independent schools present this year included Manchester Grammar School and Hampton along with a number of prep school representative sides from the south under the name of South Central. Independent Schools' football is flourishing in 2014. As Thursday draws to a close, I am seeking a small holiday let just north of Gothenburg , in Mollosunds...this one may have had its day.

SKIOLD NO MATCH FOR CHARTERHOUSE:HARROW HEAVYWEIGHTS WIN HiSTORIC MATCH.

Growing in confidence after the roughing up yesterday, the boys made their mark early on this morning on a good grassy pitch at the most northern venue in Gothia. Orlando Allen put away a penalty after Matt Kristensen was upended following a mazey run. Then Louis Clayton fed Hamish McKinnon whose dribble and shot gave Chouse a two goal lead. Next, Clemente Theotakis won the ball in midfield fed Jed Polson who scored confidently. 

Some antics on the edge of our box in the second allowed the less than average opposition back into the game and after a few dodgey moments the school ran out winners 3-1; coming second in their group. This meant a play off against Harrow School at 5.30. Surprisingly his fixture is not as historic as it should be since Harrow took the rugby code early on in their history .

And so to one of the southernmost venues in Gothia at Majvallen and another tram ride across the city. Harrow have brought a fully grown up Under 16 squad using the allowance of over aged players fairly but fully. Charterhouse boys were two years younger in some cases and this made a difference in size. But the boys had the best of the first half on a windy Astro pitch. 

Early in the game Olli Platts scored with a header after a very good move and after that the first half was even with us having the upper hand. This was probably the best we had seen our boys play. Columbus O'Donnell made one particularly good save and overall the boys deserved their lead. 

In the second half, Harrow obviously changed their game plan and rattled Charterhouse. An apparent back pass was picked up by Columbus in goal and the referee, obviously not a schoolmaster, gave the attackers the benefit of the doubt by awarding an indirect free kick ten yards from the goal line. Harrow dispatched this well. Almost immediately Charterhouse was lacking down their left and a low cross was put away, and despite looking offside from my position behind our goal, the ref said goal!

It was then all out warfare by both teams, who gave a fine display of English  knock out football. As the game drew to a close, with Harrow in front, a direct  free kick was taken by right back James Hockley, with Columbus and all other players inside the Harrow penalty area. James' kick was struck well and it evaded all hands and feet to go straight in the net. 2-2 final whistle. WOW.....THEN........

Heart break for the boys who lost the dreaded penalty shoot out 4-2, despite Columus saving one and Louis Clayton, and Jo Jo scoring.

This was their best performance of the week. Hopefully a friendly on Friday will give the boys the chance to end their week in Gothenburg in style. Much has been learned so far his week, by both players and coaches.

I'm off to Oslo tomorrow so I cannot guarantee a Gothia blog over the next few days! 

CHOUSE SUFFER IN TOUGH ROUGH UP

Charterhouse were buoyant after their win over San Antonio Utd yesterday, but as rain started to fall over Kviberg's pitches, IFK Kumla from Stockholm proved to be too street wise for our young lads. A referee, who was negligent for want of a better word, allowed several nasty tackles, elbows and punches to happen with no punishment and Charterhouse, distracted by this, were not able to match their formidable opponents. One nil down after a few minutes and conceding two more goals in the first half through poor defending, left the schoolboys with an uphill task. A perfectly good goal was disallowed for offside and this might have made the difference at half time. During the second half the Swedes remained strong, the referee lost the plot and he handed out yellow cards for minor offences but missed the big ones. Charterhouse were credited with some impressive moves which might have led to a consolation goal, but their greatest attribute in this game was to remain honest and fair in the way they went about their business. This match was not a great advert for Gothia footballing ethic, thankfully the Carthusians maintained high standards of behaviour.

San Antonio Utd won their match v Norwegians, Skiold 2-1 so Charterhouse now sits third in the table, but should beat Skiold tomorrow. I can't see the Americans beating Kumla.

40 YEARS ON

The Gothia Cup first competed in July 1974, opened today and Charterhouse u16s earned three points in their group with a 1-0 win over San Antonio Club at Gothia's most northern location, Hjallbovallen. Despite squandering chances, the youngsters kept their cool and scored half way through Jamie Platt when he shot home from 12 yards half way through the second half on Hjallbo's AstroTurf. Later this evening, the fantastic opening ceremony took place in the principle stadium in Gothenburg, the Ullevi. Over 58,000 people packed the arena watching teams of 10-18 year olds representing countries from all over the world. The Seychelles were here for the first time and of course the USA were in full force with clubs sides from all over the States. Swindon Town FC youth and girls were England's open ceremony representatives, parading in dressed in crusader uniforms. The rain has held off and the first day of competition was highly successful. David Howells, the ex Spurs player, is lead coach for the Chartehouse School U15-who are playing in the U16 age group (due to qualifying date being January) with team manager Richard Lewis and team masseur and analyst James Sylvestre. Retired teacher and blogger Malcolm Bailey is in attendance, of course. He has been to Gothia for a number of occasions since 1992.

HOME ADVANTAGE MIGHT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

It's been raining in Copenhagen, but it has not dampened the city's enthusiasm for this year's World Cup final. What happened to the famous Danes? well they blew out a long while back. I am not sure where their allegiance lies? Are they friendly enough with the Germans to give them their support? Denmark rolled over fairly quickly in the war and they are neighbours and in the EU etc, so why not?

Germany goes into this final having won the competition ONCE before. Let's not get into this historical business of them winning football's greatest challenge four times, they haven't. 

West Germany won it in 1954 (played in Europe at the Wankdorf stadium in Switzerland), in 1974 (on home turf, in WEST Germany) and 1990 (in Europe) when they beat today's opponents, Argentina in Italy.

West Germany also lost to England in 1966 (how can we forget that?) and lost again in 1982 (in Spain) and 1986 (in Mexico) to Argentina. 

In 2002, yes, Germany, a new nation, made the final of the coveted trophy, but in Japan, where they lost. Almost Europe, not near enough.

Argentina, at home in South America, won the cup in 1978, they won in Mexico in 1986 as mentioned before, and lost in the first ever World Cup in Uruguay in 1930.

Brazil (7) and Italy (6) have more final appearances than these two though. 

I might get a glimpse of the match in the local hotel bar if I can justify my existence by paying a ludicrous amount of kroner for a beer.

IT ALL BEGAN IN MALMO and 999 views!!!

I am in Bremen, having ferried across the water from Hull overnight, and now in the old City, feeling proud that I have managed to get the hotel computer working and have negotiated the German keyboard. I got to it first and threw my towel over it before anyone else could use it.

There is an air of expectancy in the town. Hotels have their flags flying and one of the Best westerns actually has the scoreboard on show in the Foyer.

Henry Winter in the Telegraph reminded us, as if we didn't know, that Belo Horizonte is twinned with Malmo in Sweden. The Germans came full circle on Tuesday night when they put Brazil to the sword, in similar fashion to the 4-0 beating of the England U21 team during the 2009 European U21 final staged in Malmo.

Eight players from that successful German squad have gone on to play for the full international side and six are in this World Cup team, including Neuer, Howedes, Boateng, Hummels, Khedira and Ozil. Jurgen Klinsmann started the development of "die Mannschaft" and this involved fostering home grown talent; the 50+1% rule encouraged by the Deutscher Fussball-Bund.

The process was to educate 20,000 school teachers to coach pupils and to back the three to six year age group to be physically active. There were training centres set up for the 11-17 year group, establishing football schools and academies. Sounds like England? Well yes, it is happening here but the Germans are way ahead. (see previous blog)

Klinnsman worked with club coaches to establish a pattern of play for the national team, players were encouraged to hone their skills overseas and immigrant communities in Germany were scoured to find rich talent from the "Gastarbeiter",  the guest workers, from Turkey and such; Ozil and Khedira for example.

German Football has had continuity since 2004 in its commitment to youth, to the attacking game, and to national leadership, with Joachim Low, now the team coach, and Oliver Bierhoff, still at the helm of the DFB.

Sadly, we have nobody of that calibre and influence at the FA. We also do not have the cooperation between our FA, the Premiership and the clubs, unlike in Germany where the German FA, the Bundesliga and the clubs have a strong bond.

England's starting line up in 2009 included Micah Richards, Kieran Gibbs, James Milner, Adam Johnson and Theo Walcott, who went on to play for the full XI. Joe Hart was suspended for the final and Frasier Campbell and Agbonlahor were also being disciplined. Milner is the only one to be in Brazil.

So to complete my circle, I am off to Sweden on Monday to visit the Gothia Cup. It's our 40th wedding anniversary, so my lovely wife is in for a real treat. Have a look at the www.gothiacup.se website. It's a brilliant tournament, originally run by Dennis Anderson, an ex Swedish international. Charterhouise School U15s will be there pitting their wits against the best young footballers.

YOU CAN'T RUN, YOU CAN'T HIDE, BUT YOU CAN MESS UP

As the game slips towards the penalty shoot out, nerves will start to jangle. The Dutch have their secret weapon in Krul, who does Argentina have? The science and psychology of penalty taking has been written in a full book. Matthew Syed in today's Times covers it well in three columns. It's the long walk to the spot that gets noticed. 

There is an acceleration of the heart and lung function. Paling and flushing ...inhibition of stomach action, such that digestion ceases. The constriction of the bold vessels. The freeing up of metabolic energy sources such as fat and glycogen, the dilution of pupils and the relaxation of the bladder. Perception narrows, often there is shaking. As I write, the South Americans have two golden chances to avoid all this discomfort. They fail. The game comes to an end. Muscles are primed and there is an increase in body strength. Adrenaline pumps, tunnel vision occurs. No longer calm,the body is taut, trembling with the effects of cortisol. The human becomes hyper-vigilant; it comes from our ancestors' need to survive, run, fight. If you need to take a penalty then there has to be a mechanism to counteract this stress. You cannot run or fight, you need to survive messing up. Pressure is not a problem it is a privilege. Extra times ends. All the preparation, will it help?

So Krul is kept in the locker. Players embrace and link arms on the half way line, all part of the ritual. Anybody feeling calm?

Cillissen has not saved a professional penalty!

Here we go....no van Persie?

Holland, Vlaar saved, the first penalty, so important.

Argentina, Messi has missed one recently, chips it home.

Robben goes to the keeper's left and hits the inside of the side netting. Perfect, but he has all the attributes to counteract this pressure.

Garay smashes it home.

Sneijder has his saved by Romero.

Aquero scores, 3-1-relief in the crowd.

Kuyt scores- this is it, no pressure...score and Argentina cannot lose.

Last one hammered in by Rodriquez, despite a hand on the ball by Cillissen, he should have saved?

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KLOSE CLOSES HOSTS DREAMS

As Brazil's dream evaporates, Miroslav Klose has broken the World Cup individual goal scoring record by knocking in his 16th goal in 22 matches, over four World Cups. He becomes the 3rd player to score in four World Cups. Pele and Uwe Seeler are the other two. Klose at 36 has led the German line since 2002 and in this semi-final overtakes totals by Ronaldo (15) and Gerd Muller (14). Klose has also overtaken Muller's total of 70 goals for Germany. Oleg Solenka's 5 goals against Cameroon in 1994 is a record total in one finals match but Archie Thompson popped in 13 goals against American Samoa in a 31-0 rout in a qualifying match in 2002. Tonight's score, so far (5-0), is the biggest defeat for Brazil in a World Cup match. Their heaviest defeat to date is by Uruguay 0-6 in the Copa Americas in Viña del Mar Chile in 1920.

In 18 first half minutes Germany destroyed the 2014 hosts.

KEEPER SWEEPER KEEPS CLEAN SHEET

The earliest account of football teams with player positions comes from Richard Mulcaster in 1581; however, he does not specify goalkeepers. The earliest specific reference to keeping goal comes from Cornish Hurling in 1602. According to Carew: "they pitch two bushes in the ground, some eight or ten foot asunder; and directly against them, ten or twelve score off, other twayne in like distance, which they term their Goals. One of these is appointed by lots, to the one side, and the other to his adverse party. There is assigned for their guard, a couple of their best stopping Hurlers". Other references to scoring goals begin in English literature in the early 16th century; for example, in John Day's play The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green (performed circa 1600; published 1659): "I'll play a gole at camp-ball" (an extremely violent variety of football, popular in East Anglia). Similarly, in a 1613 poem, Michael Drayton refers to "when the Ball to throw, And drive it to the Gole, in squadrons forth they goe". It seems inevitable that wherever a game has evolved goals, some form of goalkeeping must also be developed. David Wedderburn refers to what has been translated from Latin as to "keep goal" in 1633, though this does not necessarily imply a fixed goalkeeper position.

Initially, goalkeepers typically played between the goalposts and had limited mobility, except when trying to save opposition shots. Throughout the years, goalkeeping has evolved, due to the changes in systems of play, to be a more active role. Goalkeeper is the only position in which you can use your hands in the game of football (other than during throw-ins). The original Laws of the Game permitted goalkeepers to handle the ball anywhere in their half of the pitch. This was revised as late as 1912, restricting use of the hands by the goalkeeper to the penalty area.

And so we come to Manueline Neuer, regarded as the best in the World. He had to make a save or two tonight as the French huffed and puffed but he retained his reputation. Against Algeria he was far more stretched having to make 21 or his 59 touches outside his penalty area-with his feet I might add. You could argue that this brisk taking but actually Neuer is proving that you don't play in goal because you are a bad footballer. It used to be the fat kid who went in goal-no more! Unlike Harald Schumacher's notorious collision with Battiston in the 1982 semi-final, there are no broken teeth, or outrageous collisions. On that occasion, Schumacher stayed on the pitch, Battiston did not and Schumacher saved to two penalties in the shoot out, which Germany won. Neuer times his challenges to perfection. Is he going to beat Tim Howard's record number of saves in a World Cup match? Doubtful, since he is probably playing behind a better defence. It was Neuer's 50th cap tonight.

VAN BUYTEN THE OLD, GUIDES BELGIUM THE BOLD

36 year old Daniel Van Buyten gave his Belgian colleagues nine years in experience to lead his team into the quarter-finals of the World Cup. All eight group qualifiers won their last 16 knock outs and most recently it was the Belgians that earned their position in the quarter-finals. The frightening fact is that the next oldest player to appear in Belgian colours was Vincent Kompany at the ripe old age of 28. Given that Lukaku is 21, Origi 19, Hazard 23 and De Bruyne 23 the average age of yesterday's squad, without the old boy, is not yet 25. This must put fear into Europe's national team managers, as the next international tournament looms close, with qualifying matches beginning this Autumn. Van Buyten does not get a mention in the press report I read this morning, which proves that he is the rock on which all Belgian's success is founded. At 22 years old, how good was Courtois? Probably not as good as Tim Howard who made 16 saves from the 56 attempts that his opposition threw at him. There are a few more famous Belgians to consider now, to help you with your Christmas quiz this time round.

YANKS EARNING THEIR STARS AND STRIPES

Without doubt Jurgen Klinsmann's soccer squad will be regarded as the best yet to come from the United States. As the Stars and Stripes play Belgium this evening, in what is proving to be an absorbing contest, they are now more famous than that "cobbled together" of amateurs that upset the highly favoured England side in the 1950 World Cup, also held in Brazil. The North Americans have come a long way!

With them in Salvador are thousands of "in your face" fans and back home over 60,000 supporters will watch the game on a huge screen in Soldier Field, adapted for the occasion. 25 million Americans watched the qualifier with Portugal game on TV, 14 million saw them lose to Germany, a morning airing but although there is growing enthusiasm for soccer, in 2014 the Super Bowl attracted 115 million viewers. Soccer has a long way to go!!

This World Cup is breaking records in many different fields. 

Brazil's game in Belo Horizonte registered 16.4 million tweets and Facebook recorded 220 million people making one billion posts since June 12th. The Brazil-Chile game was watched by the biggest TV audience in Israel for more than 2 years. 

Ps does Chris Waddle dye his hair?