This episode of The Failed Footballer is what happens when World Cup fever, actual fever and a touch of delusion all collide at once.

I chat to Adam Peacock, the voice of Stan Sport’s football coverage and one of the most trusted voices in Aussie football, and he immediately starts dropping wild World Cup predictions. England to win, a surprise pick for player of the tournament and how much the heat will affect the best teams.

Then Santo and Ed, football commentators and hosts of the beloved World Cup Fever on SBS, rolled in to talk about the 48‑team “first actual World Cup,” the fact Santo had to Google a country, and the unbelievable stat that twelve sets of brothers are playing at this tournament - with almost half representing different nations. 

I also learned the Socceroos once had a minesweeper clearing the penalty area during a WC Qualifier during the Vietnam War. Meanwhile today’s players complain about the grass being too long...

We get into whether England can survive the American heat, why this Socceroos squad has something about them, and if red cards should be axed entirely (which sounds fun until you imagine Pepe with no rules).

It’s football, nonsense and pure World Cup delirium as we count down to the opening game.