Ibra comes to LA

Day -75 WorldCup2018

Too late. Too tired. I'll be back at it tomorrow. If you need something to read about Zlatan's incredible LA Galaxy debut today was pretty incredible. But I guess that's Ibra.

Panini album, Mifsud style

Day -76 WorldCup2018

Good night and good bye Malta. See you soon. But please do me a favour and stop being in the news for match fixing allegations. Even a friendly against Finland can't go by without suspicion. A 5-0 defeat is bad enough.

On a final note of Malta memories: as the World Cup Panini sticker goes on sale below is an example of the home made version in the Mifsud household.

 

World Cup with no British refs

Day -77 WorldCup2018

Fifa announced the list of referees for the World Cup today and for the first time since 1938 there is not one British name on the list.

Is it just me that sees the irony in this, or am I making up the irony? The International Football Association Board which determines the laws of football and any changes is made up of representatives of the football associations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, together with Fifa. This goes backs to the days when football started and it was the British who wrote the rules. The referees enforce these rules but not one of them at football's showcase event are from England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The IFAB recently recommended the use of the controversial video assistant referee (VAR) in at Russia 2018. But again, none of the referees from the associations that introduced VAR to the World Cup are going to be a part of its' introduction to the World Cup.

VAR. You sure. Fifa?

Day -78 WorldCup2018

It's the day after......

The day after VAR was used to controversially hand Italy a 1-1 draw against England. There is so much debate about the penalty and if VAR actually helped or not, that I think there needs to be a VAR-type system to review the decision made to introduce VAR to Russia 2018.

Italy, we'll miss you

Day -79 WorldCup2018

I said I wouldn't watch. I said I wouldn't be bothered with these friendlies. But there's a feeling of excitement sitting in a bar surrounded by TV's showing England play Italy, Germany take on Brazil and Denmark against Chile at the same time. It's not the matches, it's the knowing that the real thing is coming soon. Very soon. And on top of that is the nostalgia of being in Malta watching World Cups.

It's a little odd watching Italy and having to think that they won't be in Russia. No Italy at a World Cup. Love them, because you're a fan, or hate them, because they have been boring, lucky, and oh so Italian, in the past they still add an elegance, a special-ness to a World Cup. They are like the aristocrats who you used to despise but miss now that they have been discarded and relegated to the pile of outsiders looking to fight their way in.

But in the world of professional sport there is no time for sentimentality, right? Only in the world of fandom of professional sport can you afford yourself that luxury. We'll miss Italy, and Holland, and Chile but so be it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kq7OZX4FFO0

France-Brazil 1986

Day -80 WorldCup2018

"The best 60 seconds of football without a goal."

What a wonderful football match this was. One of my all-time favourites. Fantastic, exciting, exhilarating. Beautiful. In this 60 seconds there was the wonderful Platini pass, the oh so obvious, game changing foul that the ref ignored (not missed) and the sudden switch to a chance for Brazil to win it.

At the end of a day of special memories, this is another one that will not be forgotten.

Wolves: greatest team in the world

Day -81 WorldCup2018

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CxoI4AjgokU