And, we’re off…
Strangely, to the sound of Robbie Williams. There was a sound in the UK of a collective, growing “aaahhhh…” as everyone suddenly realised that Robbie Williams is an archetypal Russian popstar. Could it be that Robbie Williams is a Russian plant too? Anyway, his sarcastic, Anglophilic, coked-up swagger put in mind an oligarch on a shopping trip complete with bad hair, jewelry and tattoos and made the child in me very happy. The opening ceremony managed to make everyone who has ever hosted an event feel very silly – Why didn’t you just invite Robbie WIlliams?
Also, don’t Putin and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia seem like they get on well. That’s nice.
For the above reasons, it was the best opening ceremony ever.

The opening match didn’t offer prestige, but thankfully it did deliver on goals. While Clive Tyldesley proved his worth as a commentator (managing to drop in mentions of both Stalin and Oil and it’s only game one), ex-Madrid Cheryshev showed his worth on the pitch – producing two moments of sparkle in an otherwise frenetic yet flat affair. That’s the kind of stuff you read on the BBC, lads. Cheryshev’s goals were bangers though, both goals were the kind of thing you only attempt on a fives pitch and perhaps explain his lack of first team 11s football.

Tomorrow things move up a notch – Portugal vs Spain. The daily coverage may fail on day two, I may visit a public house and this is a demanding enough cup  just watching the darned thing,  let alone boozing with all my fellow soccer fans!

In other football news, Flo Kamberi signed a three-year deal with Hibs. Fantastic news.

GGTTH

MrHummels

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