The 2018 World Cup has begun, with billions of people around the world enjoying the quadrennial, month-long, 64-match, 32-nation festival of football.

The tournament is always bound to throw up a few oddities and talking points, so here are a few things you can bet your bottom dollar will happen at some point between now and the final on July 15.

  • Fans crying with face paint on

A nailed-on occurrence at any major international football event. There were tonnes of them during Brazil’s 7-1 humiliation in their own backyard at the hands of Germany four years ago.

Especially prominent during the knockout stages, so we may to wait a bit to tick this one off yet.

  • A massive injustice

We had a double-whammy of these in South Africa eight years ago.

First we had Frank Lampard's 'ghost goal' that never was against Germany (yes, yes, we all know it crossed the line) in the Last 16.

Then, in the quarter-finals, we had Luis Suarez blocking what seemed to be a certain goal with his hand at the end of extra-time to deny the Africans a place in the semis.

Ghana missed the resulting penalty and then lost in the shootout while Suarez shamlessly celebrated on the sidelines.

  • A lesser-known player briefly shines and gets snapped up by a Premier League club in the summer, only to struggle

Enner Valencia anyone? The Ecuador striker's three goals during the 2014 World Cup was enough for West Ham to snap him up from Mexican club Pachuca.

He ended up scoring eight goals in 54 games for West Ham - also scoring three in 21 for Everton in a loan spell - before returning to the Mexican League last year.

Goalkeeper Richard Kingson joined Premier League newcomers Blackpool after leading Ghana to the 2010 quarter-finals, playing 20 games before his release at the end of his first season at the Seasiders.

  • Distinctly more people calling in sick at your workplace during the three England group games

Not as noticeable as when England played Wales on a Thursday afternoon in the Euros, but those who work the evening shift may notice a certain shortage of colleagues on Monday evening when the Three Lions take on Tunisia for a 7pm kick-off.

  • A properly awful game or two

It’s always unlikely that in a 64-match tournament that every game is going to be brilliant. There’s bound to be a couple of dud games.

Morocco v Iran anyone?

  • A frankly bizarre moment or story

We all remember Uruguay striker Luis Suarez’s (him again) infamous bite of Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder four years ago, but how about when three members of the North Korean team defected after their group-stage exit in 2010?

Or when English referee Graham Poll managed to show three yellow cards to the same player in 2006?

  • Germany win on penalties

Let’s face it, this is a given. It could even be against England with the two teams potentially set to meet in the quarter-finals. Wouldn’t that be a treat?

  • Cristiano Ronaldo does something to ensure the headlines stay on him

Ronaldo is one of the greatest players to ever grace the game, and if you can be certian that he will do something, anything, to make sure the spotlight is on him and/or his Portugal side.

(Edit: this was written before his hat-trick in the 3-3 draw with Spain, so you can tick this one off already!)


  • A huge rivalry clash

We're bound to get one at some point, in fact we had Portugal v Spain lined up in Group B on day two of the tournament.

But there is sure to be one or two to look forward to in the knockout stages. Brazil v Argentina? England v Germany in the quarter-finals?

How about a chance for Sergio Ramos and Mo Salah to renew their acquaintances in Round 2 if Spain and Egypt both qualify?

  • A dismal England exit

We know it’s coming, we just don’t know when. A meek exit in the quarters against a much stronger Germany side would probably count as a success given our record in the last few major tournaments.