A tiny bone has kept a nation in suspense for more than five weeks now. The digit in question, the fractured fourth metatarsal of England striker Wayne Rooney's right foot, has been the country's leading cause of angst and speculation this spring, and during the team's first World Cup training session in Germany on Tuesday morning, reporting on the injury still was irresistible for the massive British media throng.

cool Rooney has made even the Washington Post
and they are right the country is officially closed during England world cup games and semi-detached during the tournament in general
i shall be enjoying the football (i'm english so to me this is football not soccer) and various male friends of mine will hide from the entire event (hello simon, keith and andy)
the rest of us, both men and women, will enjoy the beautiful game in the biggest and greatest sporting competition in the world
please note if you are doing business or phoning friends abroad check the world cup tournament fixture list first unless you know for certain they aren't football fans