John Roycroft gives his reaction to an enjoyable but, as always, controversial World Cup in Qatar. 

A Christmas World Cup makes John Roycroft consider a new genre of seasonal entertainment, where the worlds of football and pantomime performance meet. 

Belgium and Germany are the big-name casualties in week two, as John Roycroft casts an eye over the best and worst of the World Cup so far.

One week in, John Roycroft looks at how the contenders in the Qatar World Cup have fared.

John Roycroft looks at the prospective winners and losers at this year's World Cup

John Roycroft looks at the prospective winners and losers at this year's World Cup

The brilliance of the Irish team to qualify for their first World Cup was somewhat lost in the subsequent chant scandal. John Roycroft fears that this will just result in this happy and eloquent side losing their voice for fear of offence.

The brilliance of the Irish team to qualify for their first World Cup was somewhat lost in the subsequent chant scandal. John Roycroft fears that this will just result in this happy and eloquent side losing their voice for fear of offence.

Once again Ireland's performance looked better than results suggest. John Roycroft wonders if Irish boss Stephen Kenny can blend his playing ideology with a successful qualification campaign.

John Roycroft tries to work out who will claim the Premier League title next May, despite the troublesome fact that a World Cup will interrupt proceedings mid-season.

John Roycroft looks ahead to a summer of football without a major tournament but with an early return of the Premier League

Fan power has shown its strength in bringing down the proposed ESL before it began. But fans must realize that the same wolves that hunt their sport are already amongst them.

Fan power has shown its strength in bringing down the European Super League before it began. But fans must realize that the same wolves that hunt their sport are already amongst them.

The seemingly never-ending instances of marginal and incorrect VAR decisions are killing the game as a spectacle and is simply unfair on players and fans alike.

Money would be better spent in other areas of Irish soccer but wouldn't we love to host a major event all the same...

NEWS that Bobby Charlton has been diagnosed with dementia took on an added poignancy as it came just 48 hours after the passing of his Man United and England 1966 team-mate Nobby Stiles, who died from health issues relating to dementia.