TV Guide: England continue World Cup march on two fronts

Jude Bellingham, the second England World Cup goal scorer to share his name with an area of southeast London after Bobby Charlton (David Beckham came close), settled the nerves against Croatia. Next up is Ghana (Tuesday, BBC One, 9pm), a side England have met only once, drawing a friendly in 2011. Then Scotland face Brazil in the World Cup for the fifth time (Wednesday, BBC One, 11pm). For their hope of progressing, the Scots hope it will be more like the goalless draw in 1974, or at worst the one-goal defeats in 1990 and 1998, than the 4-1 drubbing in 1982.

One of the most surprising pieces of World Cup trivia, up there with both semi-finals at the inaugural tournament being won 6-1, is that it took until the sixth tournament and the 110th match for there to be a 0-0 draw. That honour fell to England, whose clean sheet against Brazil, lacking the injured Pelé, in Gothenburg in 1958 was tempered by failing to find the net. 

England have now had 12 goalless draws while Brazil have had nine, including the final when it last came to the United States in 1994. The first round of matches this time had just one but what a glorious one for the 525,000 people on the volcanic islands of Cape Verde as the debutants held Spain. Group H also had Saudi Arabia drawing 1-1 with Uruguay, so one minnow may now progress. The Saudis next take on Spain, while Cape Verde play Uruguay (both today, BBC One, 5pm and 11pm).

Let us not forget that there are two World Cups on. The women’s T20 competition has come a long way from its debut in 2009, when all 12 group matches were played at Taunton. England won that year but not since. After a good start, their next match is against West Indies at Lord’s (Wednesday, Sky Sports Cricket, 6.30pm). The men’s third Test against New Zealand starts at 11am on Thursday.

With just a few exceptions, the US Open has concluded on Father’s Day for the past 50 years (during Covid, some fathers were forced to spend the day with their children rather than watching golf, poor things). It has been poignant for some players, with Justin Rose pointing skywards to his departed pa after he won in 2013 and Phil Mickelson tearing up after losing on the last green in 1999 the day before he became a father. 

In 2021, Jon Rahm won his first major on Father’s Day and celebrated with his two-month-old baby. Could this be a good omen for Scottie Scheffler, who recently had his second child and is seeking the career grand slam? Another reason for Scheffler to celebrate: today is his 30th birthday (final round today, Sky Sports Golf, 7pm).

My Father’s Day treat comes six days later when Wales play the Barbarians at Twickenham (Saturday, BBC iPlayer, 2pm). While the rugby match could be fun, with the Baa-Baas selecting Duhan van der Merwe, Kyle Sinckler and TJ Perenara, the more important action is in the morning when my son plays in a minis festival on the pitch. Cynics may suggest this was a way to sell tickets for an international that few were interested in. If so, it is ironic that it costs more to see Blackheath Under-9s than Wales.

Photograph by Zuma Press