WELL, what a start we’ve had!

Plenty of goals, underdogs showing up the big boys and England actually looking okay.

What on Earth is going on?

Despite the inconvenient kick-off times and occasional VAR farce, the first week of the World Cup has been everything I hoped for and more.

I mean, is there anything more World Cup-py than rushing home on your lunch break so you can catch as much of Colombia v Japan as you can?

I have to say, though, none of the supposed favourites to take home the trophy have impressed me yet.

Of course there is still time for them to hit their straps, but it needs to happen soon or some of them could find themselves on the plane home earlier than they thought.

Chief among them are Germany, who are really up against it in Group F following their shock 1-0 defeat to Mexico.

Full credit has to go to the victors, though. The Germans got precisely what they deserved from that game – nothing.

They looked short of ideas going forward and their lack of pace at the back was ruthlessly exposed by an effervescent Mexican side.

I still think Germany will make it through the group, but other sides with designs on winning the trophy will be licking their lips.

Brazil dropped points and also look vulnerable in defence, Argentina failed to lay a significant glove on Iceland and Spain also got off to a false start in an incredible 3-3 draw with neighbours Portugal, who look the epitome of a one-man team as the great Cristiano Ronaldo continues to drag them along.

You cannot help but admire his extraordinary goal-scoring record and, with four goals already, I would be very surprised if he does not go on to win the Golden Boot from here.

His main rival on that score may well be England captain Harry Kane, who had us all off our seats with his last-minute winner against Tunisia on Monday night.

The win was no less than we deserved for a mainly positive performance, particularly in the first-half where, without exaggeration, we could have found ourselves 5-0 up.

That argument is lent weight by the fact England had not one, but two clear-cut penalty appeals turned down by VAR officials as well as referee Wilmar Roldan.

Up until that point, VAR appeared to be working quite well at this tournament, but the farce in Volgograd shows it still has its flaws.

No harm done, though, and we will all reconvene around the television on Sunday to (hopefully) watch England beat minnows Panama.