No future in England's dreaming
World cup business ends aren't a pretty place. Minnow nations' fans waving frantically at the camera, probably dressed as their national parrot, are replaced by people quietly weeing themselves with tension.
England, who've previously gone for shyster foreign coaches and superstar-ego-pandering, are young, open, funny and likeable this time around, lead by the superb Gareth Southgate, all waistcoats and earnestness.
They'd overcome the long shadows of world cups past by winning a penalty shoot out for the first time and actually having a strategy on the pitch to reach their first semi final for 28 years. That's roughly the same length of time between Martin Crowe's 1992 semi final heartbreaker and Grant Elliott's Eden Park heroics.
Going ahead early yesterday morning, they were reeled in and eventually passed by Croatia, every football hipster's favourite team, all never-say-die determination and hard Adriatic noses and elbows.
Like someone said on Twitter, it's the hope that kills you.
This is a young England team with an exciting future ahead, but with big guns like Brazil, Germany and Spain more disappointing than a dropped ice cream, 2018 may have been their chance to win it.
It's France's to lose now, although underdogs Croatia have some magic about them.
Big picture, England seemed to be part of a new wave of team-first-cultures, where it's all about the group rather than superstars, along the lines of the BLACKCAPS under Mike Hesson. It's a modern, inclusive way to do things, diametrically opposed to say the Australian cricketers, with their sandpaper and shouting at people.
These teams are fun and rewarding to support, but are they a way to win trophies? Let's hope the BLACKCAPS show us how it's done at next year's world cup.
We're nearly there for Russia 2018 and disappointingly, life will soon be back to normal. It's been one of the best ever, with plenty of goals, upsets and a different set of teams at the pointy end. We still haven't solved the problems of nations South America and Europe dominating the tournament - and hard to see that changing in Qatar next time. It'll still be fun.
Best goal - Kevin de Bruyne v Brazil. Fantastic run from Luakaku, and a stonking finish
Best fan - the guy dressed as chips
Best meme - Neymar. So good.
Thanks for reading - Richard
The week's best NZ sport writing
The Herald's Neil Reid says Steven Adam's Tall Blacks snub is due to grudges from his age-grade days - while Grant Chapman, a Basketball NZ administrator at the time, gives his perspective [NZ Herald, Newshub]
Lloyd Burr reports from London and gets lager thrown on him by an AUSSIE, who got Eng-ger-land Stockholm syndrome real bad [Newshub]
Suzanne McFadden talks to Sport NZ, who have new in-depth research to help get more women participating in sport, and to rugby, football and netball on their challenges and wins in this area [Newsroom]
Ra Pomare's brief history of the Auckland Blues [The Spinoff]
Video nasty
Red Bull Valparaíso urban downhill mountain bike run - put it on full screen / hi res to get the full heebie-jeebies.
Long read
"So what is it like, trying to keep up with the Rolling Stones on a night out?" “I can hold my own, but it’s a different level.” - typically entertaining John McEnroe interview
Selected weekend fixtures
We're nearly there, football wise - just England v Belgium in the 3v4 playoff at 2am Sunday, and the final, France v Croatia at 3am Monday morning. Calls for tactical sickie tbh, they're both on SKY
Wimbledon is counting down - the order of play is here, it's on TV1
Chiefs wasting the Hurricanes at Waikato stadium tonight at 7.35pm is the most interesting rugby gets this weekend, it's on SKY
Tour de France - first proper mountain stage is Stage 10, that's Wednesday morning our time - they go up the famous Alp d'Huez early next Friday morning, set the MySky now, 'cos you'll forget
White Ferns v England third ODI is on Saturday morning at 1am
Bring back the gif
When you have to pretend to support Croatia in the final.
