Modern Football – Dave Thomas's Blog

July 5, 20260Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #25 – Whatever Happened To Knowing When You’ve Won?

GOM World Cup Diary #25 – Whatever Happened To Knowing When You've Won? I watched France edge past Paraguay last night and, for long periods, I wasn't entirely sure whether I

June 30, 20260Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #20 – Whatever Happened To Living On Past Glory?

GOM World Cup Diary #20 – Whatever Happened To Living On Past Glory? The knockout stages reminded us of one of football's greatest truths yesterday. Yesterday counts for absolutely nothing. Brazil survived. Morocco knocked

June 30, 20260Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #19 – Whatever Happened To Taking A Chance?

GOM World Cup Diary #19 – Whatever Happened To Taking A Chance? The World Cup finally came alive yesterday. Not simply because Canada scored a dramatic late winner against South Africa. But because

June 26, 20260Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #16 – Whatever Happened To Winning?

The World Cup group stage has reached the point where teams can lose and still celebrate qualification. The Grumpy Old Man wonders when football stopped being about simply winning—and why modern life seems just as complicated.

June 25, 20260Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #14 – Whatever Happened To Just Having A Go?

GOM World Cup Diary #14 – Whatever Happened To Just Having A Go? I spent a large part of yesterday evening watching England pass the ball sideways. Then backwards. Then sideways again. Then backwards

June 22, 20260Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #12: Whatever Happened To Knowing Your Place?

GOM World Cup Diary #12: Whatever Happened To Knowing Your Place? Last week, Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Spain. The experts were surprised. Then Cape Verde drew 2-2 with Uruguay. The experts were surprised

June 20, 20260Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #10: Whatever Happened To Private Conversations?

Whatever Happened To Private Conversations? Last night a footballer was sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent. Which came as something of a surprise. When I was younger, covering

June 17, 20261Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #7: Why Does It Take Seven People To Get It Wrong?

Why Does It Take Seven People To Get It Wrong? Last night I watched another controversial VAR decision. Or perhaps I should say I watched seven people spend several minutes trying to

June 16, 20260Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #6: Why Do We Bother With Experts?

GOM World Cup Diary #6: Why Do We Bother With Experts? Yesterday I was told Spain would comfortably beat Cape Verde. The experts said so. The statistics said so. The betting markets said so. The

June 12, 20260Comments

GOM World Cup Diary #2: By the Time the Opening Ceremony Finished, I’d Forgotten There Was a Match

By the Time the Opening Ceremony Finished, I'd Forgotten There Was a Match I switched on last night to watch a football match. That, at least, was the plan. What I actually got

by DaveThomas