World Cup Etiquette for London Visitors
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World Cup Etiquette
for London Visitors
London crowds watch the 2010 World Cup

If you're planning a trip to London which involves being there any time between June 12th and July 13th, you're going to need our Guide to World Cup Etiquette. Visitors from the US in particular may not be fully aware of the minefield of social faux pas that awaits the non-soccer fanatic; London will of course be full of people from all over the world who'll being watching the tournament as avidly as the natives and in many cases, for longer, as England traditionally bow out fairly early on...

Wagers
Tip number one; you may well be tempted to place a small wager once you get into the spirit of things. If you fancy putting your life savings on, say, Honduras at any point, pause briefly to consider the odds at a reputable sports betting site before making your world cup bet. If a company like Coral is offering 2000/1 on Honduras lifting the trophy, it's quite unlikely to happen. Rethink your strategy.

Don't Ask
To be slightly serious for a moment, London is a fantastic place to experience the world's biggest sporting event. Summer in the city sees an amazingly cosmopolitan mix of people though it's one of the most cosmopolitan cities on Earth at any time. One of the best places to watch games is in one of London's hundreds of fine watering holes. Tip number two; during a game, do not ask your fellow spectators to explain the offside rule. You won't understand it anyway not even FIFA do.



Silence Is Golden
However excited you are by the match, try to avoid cheering (or jeering) at the wrong time. When the fellow with the gloves picks the ball up, it's not a hand-ball; anything that happens in the centre circle isn't a penalty; and the referee can never be offside.

Stay Focused
You may find your interest waning as the initial promise of Japan v. Greece (19th June) fails to deliver. Do not take this opportunity to stand in front of the TV and discuss Wimbledon. There will be people behind you from both Japan and Greece, and however terrible the game is, they will care - deeply.



Maintaining an Appropriate Expression
Keep a very close eye on the news, because when England get knocked out, social convention dictates that you must look glum for 48 hours afterwards. Exceptions are made for Brazilian visitors in full carnival get-up only.

Flag-Waving
Finally, a word about flags. Flags are fine! It's the World Cup. Everyone in London will be sporting flags from everywhere in the world. Perhaps think twice about waving yours outside the embassy of the country your team has just beaten, but otherwise anything goes.



(Images courtesy of theguardian.com, standard.co.uk, theguardian.com, fluidlondon.co.uk)
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