Oh – how this blog’s been unbiased since the start, and but for a brief dalliance extolling the virtues of the Netherlands, and a slightly more extended stint claiming that Slaven Bilic was the greatest man to walk the earth since our ancestors crawled from the sea, dragging their underbellies across baking prehistoric sands – we have remained impartial.

All that, however, is about to change as Jack, at least, throws his not inconsiderable weight behind the Russians… Considered tournament also-rans from the very beginning of the show, they have continually confounded expectations – and with Palyuchenko and Arshavin on fine form, this could just be the upset of the tournament thus far.

It’s all looking fairly even thus far on the CPI – so keep an eye on the stats, and Russia….Indulge me!

The scene in the Porterhouse, Covent Garden