Being a temporary football fan for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil

The World Cup looms. Whichever camp you sit in - whether you're a die hard [insert country of choice here] fan or couldn't care less about any of it, it can't be ignored. With Brazil hosting this year's events, the logo looking like a man giving himself a genuine facepalm, and teams from all over the world vying for a spot of glory, Lindsay, PR person and general fan of sun-lounging, explains how every two years she becomes a die-hard footie fan.

I’m not going to pretend I know a thing about football. Never will you find me glued to Match of the Day, or attempting add any value to a conversation on goal analysis, tactics, team selection and all that jazz.

My understanding of the beautiful game is at best limited. However, every two years something strange happens. Every two years there’s a big tournament - a World Cup or UEFA Euro competition. And every two years I become a short-term fan of watching a ball being kicked about.

Something about England playing stirs my inner patriotism and I will gladly sit, sometimes on the edge of my seat, and watch a game. Sometimes I might even shout at a big screen in a crowded pub. Once I even proudly displayed and diligently updated a free World Cup wall-chart.

I’m aware that diehard football fans often find us footie bandwagon-jumpers quite annoying, but I really don’t care. With Brazil 2014 only days away, starting on the 12th June and not ending for a month, I’m once again gearing up to becoming a temporary sports fan. Once it’s over I promise I’ll return to my everyday life and leave you loyal fans to it.

For the length of time England remain in the competition, however, I’ll allow myself to get swept up in the euphoria, maybe even exchange some basic level football banter with friends and colleagues. Who knows, I might buy myself a t-shirt decorated with the flag of St George, but I draw the line at draping my car in red and white.

I can pinpoint the time at which my closet football appreciation began. Euro ‘96. Of all the competitions, this is the one which truly stands out. The summer of ’96, the year football came home, was magic.

Whether it was because all of the games were being played on home turf, or something to do with the fact I was enjoying a never-ending university summer break, thinking back to those days always brings a smile to my face and sometimes a nostalgic tear to my eye.

I’ll never forget the cider-powered celebrations after England beat Scotland and Holland, and the shared misery and doom that followed our booting out by Germany.

I’m a temporary football fan and proud – I’ll catch up with you again in France for Euro 2016.

World Cup Facts

In 1920, British teams refused to participate in the World Cup as they didn't want to play against countries they'd been at war with. The boycott lasted thirty years before they were persuaded back.

India withdrew from the 1950 World Cup because they preferred to play barefoot.

In 1966, the cup was stolen before the tournament began. It was discovered in a ditch in South London by a dog called Pickles.

Turkey scored the quickest goal in history after just 11 seconds.

The 2014 World Cup will be the 20th tournament held since it started.