If the project goes ahead-and there is still, just, time to reconsider-the final route, and Stoke's transport fate, will not be decided until 2012 at the earliest.

They predict world number one team Brazil will fall short in South Africa because of a tougher route through to the final than their main rivals.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would do well to study Manchester United's humbling at the hands of Liverpool earlier this year as he plots a route to the Champions League final.