A quick update on the Sharpener Completely Unofficial World Cup Competition. Sadly, only four of you are matching or beating the House (me). Chris Bertram has 32 points, with Thierry Henry and Luca Toni still in bat. Raskolnikov has 34, with just North London’s favourite Frenchie still aboard. Joint-top, first, our token gurl, Bondwoman, also with Thierry, but a sending-off for the tabloids’ New Ian Huntley would help the cause, too. Level with her, on 35, is Planeshift, who will definitely take the prize if Podolski scores in the third place match, Henry bags a hat-trick in the final, and France win the World Cup. So, the grand prize hangs in the balance.

Meanwhile, the House needs a brace from Luca Toni, and Fabio Cannavaro to get sent off, to keep our meagre ad revenue stashed where it is.

Any complaints about my addition (it has been known), or just general gloating, leave in the comments.

Good luck this weekend. Or not. Once the footie-induced torpor has passed, we’ll be back to politics here for the rest of the summer. I hope.