In Actual Fact

Sometime later on today it’s going to be safe for football fans to turn on the television. Admittedly not, as advertised, at 3 o’clock when there’ll presumably be lots of schoolchildren running around the pitch, releasing doves and sundry worthies talking about the game bringing the world family together and such nonsense. But at five, Germany actually play against Costa Rica. After what seems to have been endless months of a television schedule that seems to consist solely of “Minor Celebrity Recalls How Often They Had To Go For A Pee Whilst Watching The 1986 World Cup Quarter Finals” it’ll be nice to actually watch a game.
Of course, it could be worse, all I’ve had to do is avoid the television and the newspapers: “Half time cuisine: enjoy a new World cup recipe from Delia, every day in the Guardian” – yes I know she likes Norwich city, but one can barely imagine the “grasping for tenuous links” editorial meeting that came up with that one. At least I no longer have to get off the train every morning and hear; “Meine Damen und Herren auf Gleis 5, herzlich Willkommen im FIFA WM BAHNHOF Stuttgart. Ihre nächsten Reisemöglichkeiten….”

German Words For Today: “Deutschland gegen Polen” - Surely more historically accurate for the opening clash (look, sorry, but British law dictates that if I’m writing about football and Germany, I have to make a WW2 reference - and they are in the same group).
Song playing as this was published: Crowded House “Better Be Home Soon”