Giants, minnows and a cup like no other

It is something of a relief that the biggest ever World Cup is finally underway. Let's hope it goes relatively smoothly as it is an enormous challenge with a record 48 countries participating.

- Nobby Piles

Matters have not been helped by expensive tickets, visa problems and the possibility of extreme heat.

It is also the first time a host nation is at war with one of the countries taking part.

Holding the tournament in three different countries is a difficult task in itself and there are vast distances involved affecting teams and fans alike. This is in stark contrast to the 2022 edition held in Qatar where all the stadiums were within close vicinity.

The important thing of course is that the football is competitive and entertaining. With so many teams, the group stages will be something of a mixed bag. There are unlikely to be many surprises and some games could be lopsided.