I must apologise, I’m sorry to jinx it for everyone, but I’ll be watching England v Sweden in Saturday’s World Cup Quarter Final. 1970 Mexico England lead West Germany 2-0 in a World Cup Quarter Final in Leon with 20 minutes remaining. Despite the TV pictures being worse than those beamed back from the Moon the previous year, even I, an unworldly 10-year-old, can see that this team really is better than that of 1966 and as it will be our turn to beat Brazil in the final, life

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce – Karl Marx. A triumph of hope over experience – Samuel Johnson. Can we not knock it? – Graham Taylor. Fear naught, we have not gathered around this virtual campfire to speak of louse-bearded old commie nutjobs or second marriages, we’re here to talk about football. Although to qualify that, and hopefully to drag back those sensible types who think I’ve just given them the ready, set, and greenlight to head quick-smart