Larry Ryan: Football will always retain the capacity to surprise 

If were looking for the spirit of adventure, it appears to have been applied most readily in devising elaborate new ways to miss a penalty

END OF THE WORLD: Neymar is consoled by Raphinha after Brazil lost Friday’s World Cup quarter-final against Croatia on penalties at the Education City Stadium. Pic: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

Can Ronaldo do sheepish? Is it in his locker of facial manoeuvres? Was there just a hint of embarrassment as he took the biggest acclaim of the night in the Lusail Stadium, on his arrival as sub against a Switzerland team already sunk by his young replacement?

You could almost picture Tiger Woods wearing the same expression down his local post office, lodging his $15m winner’s cheque from the PGA, based on topping the Player Impact Program again this season, for his performance on search engines.