The fatigue and injuries too are starting to take their toll on the players, with what is quite possibly the event’s best rule now coming in to play big time.

Some clever dick at the HWC came up with the genius idea that the host nation should field a team of reserves consisting of 10 field players and two goalkeepers that nations in need can call upon to play for them.

It gives some great players who didn’t quite make it into the Australian teams a chance to shine. And, in a truly patriotic, spirit-of-the event gesture, these reserves then play in the colours of the teams for which they’re filling in.

And this is no mean feat, with some of these teams working on a shoestring budget, with not all shirts printed with players’ names, and with some teams even uber-quickly switching shirts as they sub on and off the pitches.

It’s both humbling and heartwarming to witness this happen, albeit a little tricky for me as a match reporter when I know that a different #4 scores some goals.

I’m actually wondering, should this practical and bond-building rule be implemented in the A- and W-Leagues?