Day one is under our belt and the pundits are jostling for position but one old stager has shot into an early lead. Eamon Dunphy, a famously quick starter in these matters, has left the competition standing (as Pee Flynn would put it) with his declaration that he will don a dress, preferably a Gerri Halliwell inspired Union Jack one, should England reach the quarter finals. And that's before we even mention his view that David Luiz would be found wanting in Belfield or the Carlisle Grounds. A virtuoso opening day display from the Drumcondra dynamo.
Fabio Cannavaro comes in in twelfth spot after an underwhelming beginning in Sao Paolo. The low talking Italian legend seems to be one of those classic BBC/ITV imports that is drafted in purely on the basis of star quality but has little of interest to add to the discussion.
Brady pokes ahead of Giles on the back of his early row with Dunphy. It was a low key opening showing for the much vaunted senior analyst.
The rest of the positions are filled largely on past performance, but its very early days. Don't expect the table to look too much like this by the end of this shindig.
