Here we go (again) An Introduction

It is hard to believe that 4 years have passed since the last tournament was held in South Africa, who can forget the noise of the vuvuzelas, those plastic horns that drove everyone mad and forced the TV networks to mute the level of noise from the stadiums on their broadcasts.

This Thursday, the focus of the majority of the population of the planet will be shifted to what is going on in Brazil. Although it can not be proven empirically, the level of violence in the world's trouble spots always seems to be reduced during a World Cup. I write seems, as perhaps it is due to the fact, that is is just not reported on as the world's press is concentrating on the important things in life (football)  rather than some genocide or famine in a remote part of Africa which no one has ever heard of or really cares about.

Anyway, as always with events such as these, it is relatively hard to ignore them even if one has no interest whatsoever in the wonderful game that is Association Football.

(Note to American readers, and I am not sorry to have to do this, but once again it is time to have to come to terms with the fact, that this is the real game of football, (and just for the record ,I am a great fan of American football) as the aim of the game is to kick a ball with your FOOT, not run with it in your hands or throw it to another player, on this blog, there will be no trace of that awful word beginning with "s" and ending in "r" which has no meaning in any language, yet which Americans insist on using)

Therefore, unless you are planning to travel to an isolated atoll in the pacific, or some such place with no communications with the outside world , I invite you to join me, as we attempt to find our way through the Brazilian rain forests and try to reach Rio De Janeiro, where the final is due to be played on Sunday July 13th having had an enjoyable journey and perhaps just perhaps having learnt some things as well on the way.

If you want to be able to join in the discussions about this global event, that will inevitably be going on wherever you maybe, at home with your family, in the office with your colleagues or with complete strangers on a bus, in a bar or just about anywhere you can think of, without seeming a complete idiot or even perhaps surprising people that you have some concept of what is going on, please stay with me for the next month.
You never know, some of you might surprise yourselves and start enjoying football.

Later today or tomorrow, I will post an overview of the tournament, how it works etc.

Until then.