Has anybody not realised that football’s World Cup starts this week?
Love it or loathe it, expect wall-to-wall coverage of every minute of the action in Brazil for four weeks.
Many South Holland residents will be glued to their televisions and use the tournament as a reason to fire up the barbecue at every opportunity. Others will be groaning as soon as the opening credits start up and the realisation sinks in that Coronation Street has been displaced yet again.
Whatever your take on it, the feelgood factor of England progressing well in a major tournament cannot be ignored. It’s a given that workplaces are livelier and more productive, supermarkets do a roaring trade and business generally booms.
We asked six familiar South Holland people about their predictions for the World Cup – and what it means to their household.
And Spalding and South Holland Voice news editor Nigel Chapman chips in with his hopeless predictions too.
How far will England go in the tournament?
Matt Clark (director of Activ Group and chairman of Spalding Night-time Economy Forum): Even by coming runner-up in the group stage, we’re likely to run into Greece in the last 16, which we should be able to overcome.
And if we win our group then I would be disappointed not to overcome the other teams in Group C.
So, all in all, a very good chance of getting to the quarter-finals.
From there on and dependant on not being against a weather-acclimatised South American team, like the hosts, then England have every chance of sneaking a semi-final slot!
Nick Worth (South Holland District Council deputy leader and Holbeach county councillor): I think England might just cause a surprise and get to the semi-final – don’t underestimate our manager and then it’s anybody’s guess after that!
Being a patriot, let’s hope they go the whole way, but Rooney getting a red card might be a good bet!
Up front they look really dangerous, but if I was an attacker I would be fancying my chances against our defence.
Ian Canham (chief executive of Broadgate Group): I think we are destined to be knocked out by Brazil in the quarter finals.
Jim Tyner (Spalding community policing inspector): A tough group. Italy to win the group but I can’t predict who will finish second, either Uruguay or England. I’ll be patriotic and say England but to then be knocked out.
Harvey Wright (sports show presenter on Tulip Radio): I think with the talented younger players in the side, England have a realistic chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Jan Whitbourn (Tulip Radio business manager): We can only hope England reach the quarter-finals at least. Spalding will be alive with excitement at the prospects of England going further. We have wonderful places to go and watch live screenings, like Bounce Sports Bar and The Punchbowl.
Nigel Chapman: I’m going to be optimistic and say the quarter-finals. To quote the classic football cliché, it’s one game at a time and although there’s the carrot of a not-too-daunting second-round match, the group stage is tough but achievable. Italy and Uruguay are formidable opponents and Costa Rica are decent too.
I’ll say a pair of draws and a win against Costa Rica will be enough to see us squeeze through.
Who will win the World Cup?
MC: Can it be any other team than Brazil?
NW: Well, it’s in South America, so Brazil has my money and they are exciting to watch.
IC: A South American team probably Argentina, but as an outsider I would say Belgium have a great chance.
JT: The tournament’s in South America so overwhelming favourites are Brazil in my opinion.
HW: Argentina are a very strong attacking team but Brazil have home advantage. No European side has ever won a World Cup held in South America, and I can’t see that changing, so I’m going to have to say Brazil.
JW: A few possibilities – Spain being one. And it is Brazil’s home and they’re a great team. Their homeland will be out in force and hoping to get the support into the players’ heads to ‘bring it home’ for them!
NC: I don’t think any nation has caught up Spain sufficiently since 2010. The conditions won’t be a problem for this squad, which has world-class talent in every department and the necessary experience.
How important is the World Cup in your household? Will you watch every minute or avoid it all?
MC: I’m intending on getting in as many games as possible and certainly won’t miss a minute of England.
I’m looking forward to feeling the atmosphere in Bounce Sports Bar, especially as the England games are supported by a local brass band, a drummer, hostesses and cheerleaders.
With me being out of the house, I’m sure I will be in the other half’s good books. No doubt she will use the opportunity to watch the third re-run of Britain’s Got Talent!
NW: In my household, football is a pretty low priority, particularly being hockey players. Cricket would be a different matter! With some late matches the likelihood is sleep will take preference! In the present political climate I don’t think I will be supporting a European side either!
IC: We will be watching as many matches in our household as work, school and remaining married allows!
Luckily enough my wife is quite understanding when it comes to dealing with my son and I and our football addiction, so come July I should have an extensive knowledge of Algerian strikers and Costa Rican goalkeepers!
JT: I’m not a great football fan so, apart from the England matches, there’ll be very little football watched in the Tyner household.
HW: Hopefully I’ll be able to gain ownership of the remote for the most important games like England’s and the final. With the time difference, I’m not quite dedicated enough to stay up until two in the morning to watch the matches that kick off then! But I will try to watch as many games as possible.
JW: It’s always wonderful to sit with a glass of wine and barbecue and enjoy the thrills of the prospect of goals going into that net for England!
NC: It’ll be important in my household – but only to me. My wife will probably watch the England games, my daughter will avoid it like the plague and, although my four-year-old son is starting to give me the run around with a football in the garden, the televised matches won’t hold his attention. I’ll mark down Russia 2018 as the first one he’ll remember – providing England qualify!
