Thanks for the compliments, they mean a lot, and apologies for not replying till now – I’m at home from early friday to tuesday, with no connection.

Kolya, once again you called it right, its elan or spirit. There isnt any. In fairness that may take time to build, but Russian players, at a very fundamental level, have simply got to start actually caring about results and raising their game. I thought myself the win against England may have cemented that mentality, but it looks now as though it was a flash in the pan. My wife and son are Russian so I take huge interest in the Russian team and I’m tired of watching the Sbornaya collapse from lack of balls and leadership on the field. Teams with much less skill do better than Russia simply because the players care.

Chris – am delighted I managed that! U should go and watch some games when the season kicks off in march. Stay away from Dinamo though and the terraces at Luzhniki, I couldnt live with myself if you had misfortune there!

Seesaw – I couldnt have said it any better. Two piles of shite, one just an inch bigger than the other. Dreadful stuff.