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!
It's not time yet
The outpour of emotion last night after the exit of Portugal and Argentina was premature. Sure, it is likelyLionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be retired from international football when Qatar rolls round. But it's not impossible that they won't be...
Messi is just 31, and although he's already retired from international football once, can't you just see him returning in 2022 at 35 and leading Argentina to the final a la Diego Maradona at Italia 90.
And his great rival Ronaldo, despite being 33, has the body of a 25-year-old and the way he has transformed his game, from winger to number nine, means he could still be lurking in the box for Portugal in four years time.
Does it have to be? I'm refusing to let go!
The end of this road for both Messi and Ronaldo. #WorldCuppic.twitter.com/XQaD4B45GQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 30, 2018
The Lucky Dog
I witnessed an interesting ritual take place at the Ploshchad Revolyutsii train station in central Moscow yesterday.
As I stepped off the train I noticed that passengers were making a beeline towards a bronze statue of a soldier and his dog. One person rubbed the dog's nose, then another, and another, and another.
So I asked a nearby commuter what was the purpose of rubbing this dog's nose? She said: "People rub the nose because if you do, your dreams will come true." People of every age. Parents lifted up their kids to touch it. Some patted the nose, some the legs, while a few held both and waited a moment, almost in prayer. You could imagine what this dog would've represented over the years and it remains an important symbol for Muscovite's, who with their hands, have turned the bronze nose into gold.
National pride
I'm extremely excited to be heading to Luzhniki Stadium today. I was fortunate enough to attend Russia's opening day win over Saudi Arabia and the atmosphere was pulsating, so I can only imagine what'll be like today.
Nobody is giving the Russians much hope of beating Spain, but 80,000 fanatic fans might have something to say about that. La Roja were sluggish throughout the group stage and Stanislav Cherchesov's side are capable and have match-winners in Dennis Cheryshev and Aleksandr Golovin. (You can read here why I believe Golovin could change his life with a big performance today)
Tonight we have Croatia vs. Denmark in Nizhny Novgorod. I'm picking the Vatreni as my outsider to win it all from here. Don't let me down lads!
