Man of the day
Roy Hodgson. Choosing Raheem Sterling was gutsy and set the tone. The future, again, feels bright.
Moment of the day
Sterling’s near-fourth-minute Michael Owen moment – the side-netting fooling everyone, including the BBC’s graphics.
Answered question
Had Manaus locals forgiven England for the UK press billing their town a “murderous hell-hole” last year? The jeers said no.
Debut news
On co-commentary: the BBC’s answer to Gary Neville, Phil Neville. Leading the online tributes: comparisons with snooker’s Whispering Ted Lowe and with “a Dignitas satnav”, plus this from @mrchrisaddison: “If a Wild Bean Cafe pasty could talk…”
Best aside
Gary Lineker, during the BBC’s half-time chat, asking his star pundit: “Did you ever get away with a handball, Thierry?”
Hipster count
Italy: Seven beards, England: one. @charltonbrooker: “The Italian team all look like the actors you’d cast to play the Italian team in the movie version of this.”
Tough day for
Sky Sports News: reduced to showing First Fast Now footage of fans watching in a Newcastle pub.
Off-pitch news
After all the criticism pre-match the Manaus pitch refused to cave in or catch fire and the green paint held together well. “Our pitch is excellent,” reckoned officials.
Stats of the day
1) After last night there have now been 25 goals in seven games – compared with nine at the same stage in 2010. 2) Uruguay notched their ninth World Cup red card – second only to Argentina and Brazil. It was the World Cup’s 160th red.
Plus: Dance of the day
Daniel Sturridge threw trademark shapes but failed to better Colombia’s impromptu/months-in-the-planning touchline dance against Greece – with its stylistic nod to Ant and Dec’s Ready to Rhumble.
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