Tim Vickery said in his blog that there is one piece of information that will be cited time and time again ahead of next summer's Fifa World Cup finals.
Well, as if to fulfil his prophecy, here is that fact for you: since the World Cup started in 1930, no European nation has won the trophy on another continent.
The closest anyone has come to triumphing in the eight editions held beyond European frontiers was Italy, who lost on penalties to Brazil in that less-than-memorable 1994 final in Los Angeles' Rose Bowl.
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It's finally here - El Clasico.
Well, the countdown has begun to El Clasico on Sunday - although it actually began in late July when the Spanish fixtures computer spewed out the date of the clash.
Spanish league leaders Real Madrid travel to bitter rivals Barcelona for perhaps the most emotional derby game in the world.
Neither side ever needs any extra motivation for this match but, as often in the past, the first encounter between the pair this season appropriately brings together the top two teams in La Liga.
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To read some British newspapers at the weekend, it looks almost a done deal that the former France and Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc could take over from his mentor Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sorry, United fans, but others are in the queue to sign up Blanc before your club's owner Malcolm Glazer or chief executive David Gill get the green light from Sir Alex to lure him to Old Trafford as manager.
For a start, the French Football Federation (FFF) almost certainly has got designs on arguably the best European coach under the age of 45, with the possible exception of Barcelona's Pep Guardiola.
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Hi, I'm Phil Minshull. I've lived in Spain since 1997 and covered Spanish football since the first day I got here. My blog aims to provide some insight into what's happening in La Liga, and there is much more to it than only Real and Barcelona, as well as elsewhere around Europe.
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