Things are getting spicy in Qatar. On the field, nothing is going according to script. Pre-tournament favourites like Belgium are teetering on the edge of elimination, and the qualification picture is changing wildly with every game and every minute of the first round. 

Germany looked set to succumb to a prolonged case of the winner's curse, which seemed to have been carried over from 2018 when, as reigning champions, they got booted out of the tournament in the first round.

Certainly, based on Costa Rica and Japan's form in their respective openers, it looked like Japan would easily collect all three points, or at least one, from the encounter between the two countries, and push Germany closer to the edge. But, clearly, things did not pan out that way. 

Even in their own game, Germany seemed to have been doomed to defeat against a mostly dominating Spanish side, and again on the brink. But then Sane came on, and helped keep the Mannschaft and their supporters sane for at least one more game. 

Within the space of minutes, the Germans went from being almost dead and buried to becoming marginal favourites to finish second in Group E. They still have to beat Costa Rica by more than a goal though, and hope that Japan draw or lose to Spain. Both scenarios are likely but, as we have already seen in this tournament, likely is far removed from guaranteed. No one would be shocked if Costa Rica were to qualify from this group.

The tension and disappointment on the pitch is spreading off it as well. One ridiculous story involved magic-man Lionel Messi himself. Apparently, in spite of ample visual evidence to the contrary, a Mexican boxer named Saul "Canelo" Alvarez insisted on Twitter that Leo was "cleaning the floor" with a Mexican jersey, and asked the Argentine number 10 to pray that he would not run into the pugilist anytime soon.  

In another regrettable instance, the Brazilian legend Ronaldo had to come out in furious defence of his compatriot Neymar, who has apparently been subjected to unending abuse on social media ever since news of his injury came out. Abuse that was hurled not by rivals but, stunningly, by people from his own country. The world is, sadly, going slightly mad.

We need to get a grip. It's only halfway through the first round of a long tournament. There is a lot more madness to come on the pitch. Let peace and decency prevail off of it, even if sanity does not.