The Three Dads World Cup Wonderland

Every single world cup it is the same. I write down the date of the first game in my diary (well, truth be told I write down the exact date and time of EVERY game in my diary) - but what I always always forget is that the teams play warm up matches in the fortnight before the tournament proper. Far from being meaningless friendlies - these games, for once, are actually really worth something. Players playing for their places, partnerships tested and the team finding its feet and discovering a pattern of play that it will take into the tournament.  I love pre-World Cup friendlies; and I am sat in front of England's first one tonight. Glass of Malbec to hand, for the South American vibe, too. Today England are playing against Peru - a team close to my heart because of the awesome road trip I did there in 2012 . It is a country that is better at serving chicken feet in soup than it is at football, but a decent test nonetheless. We should win of course, but are doing a pretty good

The best (and worst) thing about the internet is that it has this tremendous habit of remembering things. So earlier today when I curiously searched to see whether I could find "Stevie and Birchy's World Cup Wonderland", the blog I set up for South Africa 2010 with an old friend, Google of course delivered. So here it is, the blog. Dusted down. Re-opened. And raring to go for Brazil 2014. Not sure if Steve will be joining in again. Its been a while, and he's a family to look after now, but if I know him, he will be indulging in a feast of football and sleeplessness just like me.