A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to catch the Eurostar train from London’s gleaming new St Pancras station via the Eurotunnel under the English Channel to Brussels. The train trip was less than 1 hour 50 minutes at speeds up to 300 kilometres per hour. What a way to travel and you don’t feel a thing! Also, you only need to check in 30 minutes before departure time. Although this is really train geeky, I have to admit that it was very fast and very, very cool. Rolling Stock Foley

With just three days until the first match of the FIFA World Cup (11th June) it would be wrong of me as an Englishman in the role of blogmeister, not to comment. For most people reading this blog that’ll mean all eyes on groups C (USA) and F (NZ).

2010 is a big year for New Zealand’s ‘All Whites’, qualifying for the second time in the tournament’s 80 year history (the first being the ’82 World Cup in Spain).

Held every four years the World Cup has taken place 18 times. The inaugural tournament took place in Uruguay in 1930 and was won by the host nation who beat Argentina 4-2 in the final in Montevideo. No contest was held in 1942 or 1946 due to World War II, although this would have been a much better way of sorting out differences.

Since 1930 seven nations have won the title with Brazil topping the list a record five times. The current champions Italy have lifted the trophy four times, Germany three, Uruguay and Argentina twice each and England and France once.

The FIFA World Cup is the most watched sporting event on the planet with an estimated 715 million people tuning it to watch the 2006 final in Germany.

So it’s on. I’ll be dragging myself out of bed a 4am (NZST) on Sunday morning to watch England’s first match of the tournament against the USA. England are doing their usual trick of causing major stress and anxiety to the nation with their captain Rio Ferdinand out of the tournament before it starts, suffering injury in training.

Dutch supporters will be supporting their national side with the aid of these reversible t-shirt masks by Amsterdam creative team Bas & Daan.

Matt

I wonder if the owner has even thought of it. I think a nice wrap would look quite nice.

Mark