To say World Cup fever has struck England would be a major understatement. You can’t walk 100 metres without seeing an England flag in someone’s window or flying from a car. Normally football makes up about 50% of the boys’ work conversations; at the moment it’s more like 99%! They occasionally get so desperate for new things to keep the football conversation flowing they start talking to me about Australia’s chances.

The funny thing is that workplaces here just have to accept the obsession, and even accommodate it. We’ve had an official directive outlining what we can and can’t do on the 15th when England take on Trinidad & Tobago – it’s the only England game during work hours. They’re organising tvs, beer and chips. We’re allowed to stop working and watch, but we’re not allowed to go to the pub unless we take annual leave. Ben raised a good point though: it’s not like any of our clients or suppliers would notice if we shut the offices as literally everyone in the country will be watching.

Meanwhile, I’ll be cheering on Australia next Monday for their first match against Japan – even if they won’t bend the rules and bring in tvs, beer and chips just for me! I was also lucky enough to pick out ‘Brazil’ in the work sweepstakes so I can always cheer them on too – on the quiet though, as I fear the wrath of my football hooligan workmates.