World Cups aren't what they used to be

WALLCHART up: Check. The month's social diary cleared: Check (didn't take long). TV strategically placed within view of work desk to give appearance of continued toll while actually watching all group games: Check. It's World Cup time! It feels like poor taste to get excited in any way about an event which has already been derided as ill-timed, unwelcome and downright uncivil.

- ANDY PHILLIPS

Yet it's England. And Wales. In a World Cup. Why can't these things just be like they used to? Qatar 2022 is a tournament which should have taken place five months ago, yet couldn't as temperatures in the Middle East would have endangered players' lives.

No, we couldn't possibly have let players kick a ball around in that sort of heat. That sort of temperature is only really suited to building massive all-seated, air-conditioned stadia by migrant workers who are probably used to it anyway. Sigh.

Set aside the rights of construction workers who probably aren't used to having anyone actually stick up for them or their conditions, and you've still got the issue of a tournament going to a nation in which women don't have the same status as men and LGBTQ+ activity is illegal.