China should pitch for 'alt World Cup'

So now we know the teams who've made it to the World Cup Finals in Russia, and pub conversations turn in earnest to likely winners, probable losers and potential dark horses.

Stand in any bar and it doesn't take long for words such as "Messi", "Kane" and "Peru?" to come floating to the surface.

It's a great time to be a football fan (this is my tiny part of the universe and I refuse to call it "soccer", no way). Will Belgium finally get its act together? Can Argentina bounce back from that dodgy qualifying campaign? Will Suarez leave his dental implants in someone's shoulder again? So many tantalizing questions.