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After much hesitant wallchart-filling, Geopolitics World Cup fans are finally able to feast their eyes on a complete knockout stage and plot their team’s route to a painful penalty shootout exit. Unlike in previous tournaments, there is no rest day for the wicked this time, with the first last-32 tie – a blockbuster tie between Canada and South Africa – taking place 15 hours after the final group reached its dramatic conclusion. Despite what their supporters sing, the GWC party will now continue without Scotland … who will continue without Steve Clarke. The GWC mixed zone’s least popular man has asked himself whether he is best placed to lead the nation into the next major tournament and has accepted the answer (‘no’) with good grace. “Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor,” Clarke sniffed as he backed away from the lectern and headed for the door marked Do One.

Re: Mike Towers’ request for potential walking football terms (yesterday’s letters). If two neighbouring Scottish teams play each other, is it known as the ‘infirm derby’?” – Roger Mart.

If Mike Towers wanted to sample walking football, he needn’t even have left his house. He could have just watched Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal” – Derek McGee.

As we enter the knockout stages of the GWC, I thought it time to put down a marker. On at least four occasions in the last couple of years, you have predicted penalty shootouts to finish 1-0. According to RSSSF, this has happened maybe twice ever in a normal shootout (including Silures’ 1-0 win on penalties against Hafia in the second round of the African Champions’ Cup 1979 are not known). So stop it – I’m on to you” – Neil Rose [never! – Football Daily Ed].

Kev the Poet’s suggestion that Odysseas Vlachodimos is a midfielder might explain why he was so bad whenever he played in goal” – Jim Hearson.

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