Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, 'I'm possible' (Audrey Hepburn)

Wie geht's?

There were some seismic shifts in the football world this week as the 'Round of 32' played out in thrilling fashion and the Earth tilted slightly off of its axis for a split second with some huge results.

A few key teams like England and Belgium squeaked through after falling behind, but huge players like Germany and the Netherlands exited the tournament via penalty shootouts. Shock horror!!

All of the tweaks to the FIFA World Cup have worked out brilliantly so far. The time wasting and feigned injuries have been largely sorted, two players have been sent off for aggressive acts (covering the mouth while dissing an opponent), VAR is better integrated into games, long-range shots and therefore goals have increased, and the sheer onslaught of games has dramatically increased the daily highs and lows of tournament football.

I'm lovin' it!

Love and peace - Wozza

I'm burnin' through the sky, yeah. Two hundred degrees, that's why they call me Mister Fahrenheit (Queen)

Wie geht's?

When I looked at the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule, I didn't put a ring around Group J's first round game between Jordan v Austria as essential viewing, but I aim to watch as much of every game as I can. So, I tuned in when I got home from school.

Oh my! What a game that was! End to end attack and defense right from the first whistle. It was a magnificent game between two equally matched teams who were both desperate to win. It ended up 3-1 to Austria but that score line tells you nothing about how exciting the game was.

For me, it was easily the best game of the tournament so far (all the teams have now played a game). Jordan were magnificent in defeat. I'll be cheering them on in their next game fersure.

Compare that to the much-vaunted Portugal side with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on the field for the whole game. It was very disappointing. For much of the game he ambled around offside, in the penalty box, waiting for a chance that never came. It was like his team were playing with ten men for the whole game.

So, no Ronaldo goals (yet?), while Kane, Mbappé, Elijah Just, Haaland, and Havertz scored two each and Messi three in their first game. 

Age catches up with us all.

Love and peace - Wozza

If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere (Frank A. Clark)

Wie geht's?

The FIFA World Cup is already consuming a lot of my daily attention. It's every four years, so I'm being kind to myself.

It's hard not to be impressed by the stadiums and the spectacle (Flower of Scotland was an awesome moment), but it's the football that I'm loving the most. 

What a great game football is! Generally, it flows, demands attention (it's end to end), and is drama-filled (joy, elation and despair are seconds away).

The changes to speed up the game, and the reduction of the VAR agonies by building those decisions into the game are all paying off. Amazingly, the summer heat does not appear to be affecting the players and their skill level at this highest of stages is gobsmackingly amazing.

And NZ, England, France, Argentina, Portugal and Spain haven't even played their first game yet!

There will be plenty of obstacles along the way in the next few weeks, but one team will rise above the others. It will be absolutely fascinating.

Love and peace - Wozza

In the end, we'll agree, we'll accept, we'll immortalise (Yes)

Wie geht's?

Sport brings out the best and worst in people. 

By any objective measurement, Arsenal F.C. has had a stellar season. Having led the English Premier League for most of the season, Arsenal are now champions. Generally, that's achieved by scoring the most goals, letting in the least and therefore accumulating the most points. That achievement is massive. It's 22 years since we were last champions. That's worth celebrating!

All that, plus we narrowly lost the Champions League final on penalties to PSG, having gone undefeated in that competition until then.

The haters are going to hate though.

They will call our team names (the 'boring' tag long became a badge of honour), support any team that plays against us in the name of 'rivalry', and celebrate our losses. How pathetic.

I will support England in the FIFA World Cup 2026, despite the fact there are non-Arsenal players in the squad. Obviously, I'll also support New Zealand, and Brazil as well - as I always do.

If a former Spurs player, Harry Kane, gets to lift the World Cup trophy, I will be ecstatic.

Every four years we get a chance to celebrate the beautiful game with a global competition. Pity that some of the game's supporters aren't beautiful in their support.

Love and peace - Wozza