Miami to Kansas City I know it shouldn’t be high on the list of what makes a great World Cup but I particularly enjoyed a night out in Miami on Friday, meeting England fans in a couple of lively bars on Miami Beach. Miami by night, even with a brief thunderstorm, joined Mexico City (fun, vibrant, mad) and New Jersey (villagey bars) in my top three nights out with England fans in this tournament. The age-range was 35 to 60-odd, the club affiliations from Wimbledon to Manchester United, Leeds United to Newcastle United and Chelsea.

I think France would beat Spain, but I hope they don’t. I also think Argentina will beat England, but I hope they don’t. If England win, I will be absolutely over the moon. If England make it to the final, I’d expect them to lose to France, but to have a better chance against Spain, but even making the final would be a superb achievement in my opinion.

And they did…. :(

Let the bodies pile high as Boris Johnson famously declared during Covid

All public enquiries have a tendency to state the obvious and cost a lot of money. The maternity enquiries came out with findings and recommndations that could have been put together in half a dozen meetings. The grooming gangs enquiry will do the same. What actually matters is whether any of the recommendations of such enquiries are acted on. It seems to me the majority aren't. However any time there is any sort of scandal a public enquiry is called for.

And young Trig- I still haven't forgiven you for being patronising! 😉

I am sure the epidemiologists and medical people generally have done their own, far more useful, work on it all. Nothing to do with the cringey irrelevance of the 'your story is important to us' twaddle.

Spot on DO.

Just reading latest report from the COVID inquiry. Over £200m has been spent on this inquiry. I could have written the summaries of the various reports for a couple of quid without the need for any inquiry. 1. Things went wrong. 2. Everyone did their best. 3. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Yeah it’s all a big massive if I don’t think anyone thinks we’re guaranteed a win against Argentina. Best thing is we’re also not guaranteed a loss. Makes it a really exciting game before kick off at least.

Certain amount of hubris going on here. (Grovels appropriately to the football gods).

I'd rather groundshare at Brentford than Palace. But without investment we may end up back at Kingsmeadow. Fat Boys would be happy.

Yeah I feel the same. Not like there’s an obvious easier option. France have looked better than Spain so far overall but that doesn’t make Spain a poor side by any means.

Trigs we are more likely to beat Spain than France but i think the satisfaction of pissing on France's parade would be better. To be honest i don't mind.

Anyone got any preference for tonight’s game? Should we manage to get past Argentina who would you rather face in the final?

I feel the same about Crawley only really disliked them when Evans was there and he left in 2012, they have a few fans who dislike us but we can’t be bothered to reciprocate

I saw it as a rivalry. Nearest side to us after Chelsea & Fulham

They’ve won the FA Cup too now though.

Yeah i hated Palace back then but i guess it was a bit manufactured. We are South London's number 1 though.

Agree with all of that Airsy. I felt the same about Palace fans - at least they were supporting their local team.

Indeed; whilst Selhurst was never PL, it was a good era footballing wise. Don't really feel that much ill-will to Palace fans either because of it as it couldn't have been that much fun for them sharing their ground with us for for 11 years and Charlton for 6 years before that

Lucky most of the selhurst era we had a brilliant team, so I dont have a huge dislike for the stadium, just the areas around;-)

Spit we might have to groundshare at selhurst park for a couple of years while plough lane is expanded

The Argentine player who was sent off v England in 1966, Antonio Rattin, has died aged 89.

Red Kite- Bastille Day tomorrow, and several Cat 1 climbs in 2nd half of Massif Central stage. Could be a Pogacar masterclass again.