So Brazil are out. The 'beautiful game' degenerating into lack of discipline, stupid fouls, and the inevitable red card.

And England are out. Over paid, over played, over praised.

'That' goal was an uncanny repeat of Geof Hurst's and confirms the need for some kind of electronic 'referee'. Fifa, it seems, argues that they want to keep the game democratic - a kick around in the park and the World Cup should be one and the same. Who are they kidding?

I lost faith with football many years ago when Maradonna 'scored' against England by handing the ball into the net. He was later awarded Player of the Tournament. There have been other examples since.

Surely, during a kick around in the park there'd be agreement - nice try, but it was handball or the ball did go over the line. Is it so naive - or plain stupid - to imagine that a goalkeeper, a fullback might turn around and admit the referee's judgment was at fault and the correct decision made? What value has a victory if it is based upon cheating or a falsified result? Where's the dignity in that?

The word behind it all is - of course - sportsmanship. And this World Cup confirms to me that there's little - if any - of that left in football.