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 I said that I was going to boycott this world cup. When I was younger, I talked to my older relatives, and they said that they were big Malaysia Cup fans when they were younger, but it didn't last. It was something that wore down as the years went by. After all, I would have seen all the stories over and over again, and I'd have tired of them. 

World Cup 94 had some romance because it was the first post backpass rule world cup, when football improved in quality and became a faster and more athletic game. There were the fairy tale runs – Romania, Sweden and Bulgaria, even though it was the two giants that contested the final – Italy and Brazil. And there was the great narrative of Roberto Baggio scoring crucial goals to drag Italy to the final, only for him to fail to convert his penalty and score the most important goal of his life. 

1998 world cup had Beckham's sending off and the England team's subsequent failure to progress. It had France winning for the first time on home soil. Memorable goals by Michael Owen and Dennis Bergkamp. There was Ronaldo's meltdown on the morning of the World Cup. 

2002 was the world cup of upsets, of Argentina, France, Portugal, Spain and Italy having unexpectedly early exits. There was Japan advancing to the second round, and South Korea advancing to the semi-finals but with the help of dubious refereeing. And there's also that hot Korean chick who was in the stands. 

2006 was a little boring: Argentina was and up and coming team, but knocked out by Germany. And funnily enough, both of these countries were finalists in 2014. There was the infamous Zidane headbutt, the last act of his professional career. 

2010 was the last world cup that I truly cared about. There was Paul the Octopus, the Luis Suarez handball, the vuvuzelas, and the marvelous Spanish team, although I don't know if they were really great in that particular world cup. 

I remember that 2014 was a goalfest, and I can't remember much about it other than that hilarious 7-1 drubbing of Brazil by Germany. They went to win the World Cup but I think that one day they will be punished for that. 

2018 and 2022, I don't really care for that, although England's march to the semi-final in 2018 was something to be celebrated. 

But then some interesting things are taking place in the World Cup. There were a few upsets: Saudi Arabia upsetting Argentina, Japan beating Germany and Spain, Morocco beating Belgium and Spain, South Korea beating Portugal, and finally Croatia beating Brazil. I don't know if this is going to be like 2002 with all the upsets, and right now Morocco is the last dark horse remaining in the World Cup. But many of the favourites have been dumped out – Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Spain. Is it possible for Argentina to go all the way to win the tournament? 

Up next will be Portugal vs Morocco and England vs France.