Watching brief

England’s first two group games are against USA on Saturday, June 12, and Algeria on Friday, June 18.

Pubs and clubs will be hoping for big turn-outs and supermarkets and off-licences will be hoping for increased sales of appropriate refreshments.

Both matches kick-off at 7.30pm and, with the first on a Saturday and the next a Friday, most fans will have little difficulty watching them.

But what about the third group game, against Slovenia, on June 23 — a Wednesday — at 3pm?

Many supporters will be at work. Those without access to television or the internet will have to rely on their ingenuity to keep up with the action or avoid hearing the score until they get home.

Some workers, such as those at Newark and Sherwood Homes, are being advised to book time off both to watch the matches, and possibly to recover from the effects of doing so.

Others, such as those at Vodafone, will not miss out as the company is installing giant screens so staff won’t miss any of the action.

England go into the tournament buoyed by the usual wave of optimism and, who knows, this could be the year.

Ever since the 1966 triumph there’s been hope of the World Cup returning to our shores.

For football fans it is the ultimate prize and being able to keep abreast of the games while at work is not something all fans can enjoy. For those who can let’s hope they don’t take their eye off the ball for too long when it comes to their job.