Spain 0 Cape Verde 0
Tuesday 16 June 2026
Finally, the World Cup got going yesterday.
It is a marathon, not a sprint, after all.
The sight of Cape Verde taking a point off Spain was one of those moments you won’t forget in a hurry. I’ve been one of the fiercest critics of the expanded format, but that one result has made me rethink things.
After all, why shouldn’t some of the smaller nations have a go?
We’re lucky enough to have a Cape Verdian at work. His infectious smile made everyone’s day. We were universally delighted for him and what his country had achieved.
Funny thing is, the little moments often matter most.
Countries like Cape Verde appearing on the biggest stage in world football give hope to the next generation. Suddenly youngsters can see that representing a smaller nation doesn’t mean making up the numbers.
The story within the story was even better. A 40-year-old goalkeeper, playing in the second tier of Portuguese football, walking away with the man-of-the-match award.
Football is brilliant sometimes.
Naturally, it won’t always end so well. Curaçao will testify to that after Germany stuck seven past them. Then again, thrashings are hardly new. Brazil put seven past North Korea not so long ago. I suspect some of those players are still serving their sentence.
The group stage always changes routine.
I’ve worked out a system.
Catch the first two matches, usually while pretending to work. Mornings are spent catching up with highlights. Then it’s football, football and more football.
Moaning levels on the internet have already reached critical mass.
People are complaining there isn’t a highlights show despite every goal, save and controversial refereeing decision being available online within minutes.
Of course, if there was a highlights show, the same people would be complaining about the presenters, pundits and studio furniture.
Some things never change.
Meanwhile, certain right-wing publications are criticising the BBC for presenting much of the tournament from Salford rather than sending half of Greater Manchester across the Atlantic.
Had the BBC done exactly that, the very same publications would undoubtedly have criticised them for wasting licence fee money.
Sometimes there is no winning.
The BBC decision, left the avenue open for ITV to show off with their state of the art open air studio against a stunning backdrop of New York.
It’s their money and they can spend it how they see fit.
Although getting a couple of Americans onboard because they’re Americans, especially Adam Richman, is kicking up a bit of an internet fuss.
Special mention must go to VAR, which so far appears to have resisted the urge to behave like a meddling child.
Long may that continue.
As for the hydration breaks, I’m still not convinced.
The Americans love splitting things into quarters, don’t they?
WORLD CUP LOG #1
Manchester, England
The Listening Log 