Compiled By Soteris Charalambous
The World Cup is almost upon us and for an entire month ‘the beautiful game’ will dominate most (male) conversation and household TV screens.
This four-yearly event is the ultimate festival of football. For some the Champions League (formerly the European Cup) is now the pinnacle of the game, but what gives the World Cup an advantage over club competition is that it is not weighed down by other footballing matters, like domestic league and Cup competitions which result in squad rotation and weakened sides.
Also, the ultimate goal is in sight from the very first game which allows non-football fanatics to appreciate the events that are unfolding before them.
In order to make the most of the event there are certain number of essentials that need to be in place:
The TV
It is the ultimate access, all games ticket and in order to get the most of the in-depth coverage you need a decent TV. A big, widescreen format with the ability to relay the atmosphere of the crowd will make you feel like you are there. I’d recommend Toshiba’s 42WLT58 Freeview Digital Widescreen HD Ready LCD TV (with floorstand).
The chair
Some tickets at the World Cup will be sold for hundreds of pounds. But not even the bigwigs who attend the final itself can beat the comfort of The La-Z-Boy Cool Chair. It comes equipped with every feature you could ever dream of. Under one arm there is a 10 motor heated massage controller for those tense penalty shoot-outs, and a built-in telephone; and under the other arm is a thermo-electric cooler large enough to hold your beers.
The Eskie
The only fault of the chair is that it can’t really store enough cold beers for when friends come over to watch the match, and the last thing you want to be doing is going out to the kitchen to bring in some more cold ones mid-way through a good game. The Eskie will solve that problem.
The remote control
It may sound obvious, but unless you have complete control of the remote, the channel will get changed just at the point when the team you are supporting is about to score. Make sure you keep yours in reach at all times.
Tactical doctor’s sick note
Due to the large number of games crammed into the month, the schedulers need to play some of the matches while you are still at work. A quick visit to a friendly doctor who understands your ‘aroskia’ will ensure you never miss a kick.
Reliable food delivery
You’re at the knockout stages and the teams are still level after 90 minutes. The unmistakable rumble in your stomach is from a lack of food. But there could be another 45 minutes of action ahead. Pizza is my personal favourite. No plate, knife or fork required, and you don’t even have to take your eyes off the screen to pick up a piece.
Spa day pass
This is really only necessary to appease those of you who will make your partners football widows for a month. If you are going to get away with watching blanket coverage of the event you are going to have to give something in return. A day at the local spa will give you plenty of bonus points, even when the game goes into extra time and penalties.
