Over the next month, I'll be covering the World Cup for
Tribalfootball, and along the way, I'd like to share with you some of my experiences and keep you up to date with all the action!
Back in Moscow
After spending 24 out of 48 hours on a train, it was time yesterday to park myself in Moscow, my home until Thursday.
Simply put, this city is huge. 11 million people make it the biggest in Europe. But unlike the second most, London, which I visited in May, it feels far less suffocating, as it is almost exactly 1000km² bigger in land area than the British capital. That being said, the traffic here makes Melbourne peak-hour seem like a breeze. Car horns blared out for the entirety of my 15 minute walk to the train station yesterday which only prolonged my sore ears from the night before.
In such little time, I have been fortunate enough to visit the Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral.
Growing up having not been peppered with its images, like say the Eiffel Tower or Leaning Tower of Pisa, it made seeing it in person even more surreal. I'm excited to spend some more time here to peel back Moscow's many layers.
Captain Kane
tall poppy syndrome
noun
- a perceived tendency to discredit or disparage those who have achieved notable wealth or prominence in public life.
Harry Kane copped unwarranted abuse last season for claiming Christian Eriksen's goal against Stoke. If anybody knows anything about goalscorers then they wouldn't have been surprised by his actions.
Then it was Kane being named England captain for the World Cup. The recurring criticisms were: How can you have a striker wearing the armband? He doesn't have enough guts! He hasn't won anything with Spurs!
Well I'm pretty sure those critics would've been the same people jumping up and down last night after Kane's stoppage-time winner, his second goal of the game, rescued his country from an embarrassing draw with Tunisia in their opening World Cup match.
The man has scored over 100 Premier League goals and he's only 24. Cherish him England. He's the best you've got.
Harry Kane already has more World Cup goals than Wayne Rooney. pic.twitter.com/L47ivi1swK
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 18, 2018
Already?
Time flies when you're having fun. The end of matchday one is upon us... But fear not, there are bound to be plenty of goals scored today.
I'm fortunate enough to have been granted accreditation for Poland vs. Senegal at the Spartak Stadium, which will be my first visit to the ground. I'm expecting an intense contest that could well be decided by the performances of two proper superstars - Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane.
First up though, we have Colombia vs. Japan. The Blue Samurai are much weaker than in previous tournaments, but they still have Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, which means they will threaten the James Rodriquez-led Los Cafeteros.
And if that wasn't enough for you, it's Russia vs. Egypt tonight. And you know what that means...
Ready for tomorrow.
100 million strong. @adidasfootball#HereToCreatepic.twitter.com/03BI9CQbgI
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) June 18, 2018