The best bit about this World Cup is undoubtedly the fact it’s based all in one city.
You can get to any game, every game and see any team you wish because they are all so closer together.
The furthest stadium away is the Al Bayt Stadium which is 40 miles from central Doha, it’s basically in the desert and yet with a Metro and a super efficient bus all of the fans can make it easily. It is the stadium where England will be based if they make it through as group winners on Tuesday night.
And it was also the setting for Germany v Spain which was the first real heavyweight clash of the big guns. But, amazingly, it was decided by Germany’s answer to Jamie Vardy.
Niclas Fullkrug is 29, 6ft 2in, has worked his way up through the divisions, had been playing in the second division last season and there had been something of a push for his call-up.
Fullkrug plays for Werder Bremen, has scored goals throughout his career but is a bit rough and ready.
He was the oldest outfield player to make his debut for Germany in 20 years and is nicknamed "Lücke" - German for gap - because of the tooth missing which was once embedded in an opponent’s forehead after they jumped for a ball.
Can Fullkrug help Germany go all the way? Have your say in the comments section
It feels as if there is a touch of England about this German team and a few striker wildcards down the years. Remember Michael Ricketts?
But actually Fullkrug’s directness was what the doctor ordered at the game. Spain played some super stuff, lovely triangles and yet they had to rely on Alvaro Morata - the striker who forgot how to score at Chelsea - to bail them out.
For everything wonderful about Pedri and Gavi, they are technicians rather than goal scorers. Germany’s emerging superstar Jamal Musiala is just wonderful but wasn’t on target.
Spain are surely the better bet as Germany look a team in transition. But the doubts remain - despite smashing seven past Costa Rica - over whether they can score enough goals.
England are doing their pre-match media duties today and they will be fired up for Wales and determined to win and win the Group to restore momentum.
But who you want and get from finishing first or second is something of a lottery. Holland, Ecuador or Senegal. If you win the Group it’s back to the desert.
