Poor refereeing broke Croatia and allowed Brasil to breeze in 3-1.  It was not looking so easy until a Brasil player threw himself onto the ground and the referee awarded a penalty. A former England player called it cheating while a player from another country called it part of the game.

These are some of the cultural differences that will mark the clash between the professional footballers of England and Italy.  Italian players will use any tactic or strategy to gain advantage. Unfortunately English players have a sense of fair play and a wish to win the match with honour and respect.

These things matter when the referee is selected and of course our vile friends at FIFA control that. The appalling Blatter laughed off any attempt by the European countries to address his corrupt regime by calling them “Racists” and promising his African supporters that “FIFA is still as financially strong as ever” and will be paying out bonuses after the competition is completed.

Blatters running dog Platini mooches around wishing that the English Premier league was dissolved and that his small minded provincial outlook, so ineffective in facing up to the rampant racism in Eastern Europe, Russia and the Bernebau, held sway forever.  You can smell the envy every time another great player wants to test themselves at the top, playing in England, playing in the best league in the world.

England will take to the field knowing that certain influences are stacked against them. In football the margins are tiny and the smallest per centage gain can be decisive.  In South Africa 2010 it was laughable to see Lampards equalising strike disallowed and  in Germany 2006 it was Ronaldo and co working over Rooney.  Blatters boys will make sure England get a referee who allows the hideous “technical” fouls that teams from Europe and South America use to prevent the opposition breaking into attack when they lose possession.

It matters and it matters not. England cannot play that way. We cannot do those things because our eyes are on the prize and the spirit of Charlton and Moore lead us on.  Gerrard and the players in the England shirts will not be plotting dirty tricks or malice – they will be playing for glory.

More flags of St George appear every day, seen across green fields, seen in the cities and in the suburbs. Thousands of England fans will be in Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon and England will play Italy at football.  There is no certainty, no guarantee, no knowing what the outcome will be.  Yet you know the players will never walk alone, this is England on the road to world cup glory – bring it on.

COME ON England.