Amazingly, many workplaces (e.g. mine) are actually encouraging their managers to allow people to watch the World Cup in worktime or give time off to watch it – although in exchange for some repayment of the time spent. This is because it somehow now seems to be our patriotic duty to support our national football team. (That’s “soccer” to you in the USA though I would also require you to wash your mouth out after saying it)

I am all for this principle of time off for leisure activities. It could just do with being extended. E.g., we actually had good weather this week for the first time this year. I will happily swap a few hours in the sunshine for a couple of hours in work in January. I will even pretend to be watching the World Cup if i have to…..

I do enjoy watching football when there’s a good goal or a fancy bit of ball juggling. I just never realised it was my patriotic duty before.