World Cup fever's kicking in

We now have less than a week to go until the greatest show on Earth gets started and we have already had plenty of drama in the build up.

First there was Theo's agony at being left out and then Ferdinand's injury, in the first session in the first day of training. I'm gutted for Ferdinand, as captain he would have dreamt of being hoisted up like Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet trophy and you have got to be sad for him. But the face of Michael Dawson when he arrived in Rustenburg reminded me of the excitement that comes with a World Cup, not just for the players, but for the fans.

It's not just England's chances we have to look forward to. I will take every opportunity to watch football during the tournament and like all football fans (especially those who play football manager) will consider myself an international football expert by July.

I have already set up two fantasy football teams, read multiple World Cup guides (and help write one), placed bets on the eventual winners and top goalscorers (Holland at 11/1 and Milito and 35/1) and taken part in a sweepstake (Holland again). This is World Cup fever and I'm not looking for an antidote.

We hope there will be a surprise package, like South Korea in 2002 and Greece in Euro 2004, and will be watching closely to see who it will be. Maybe North Korea, who nobody knows anything about, or the hosts South Africa, or even Slovakia, in their first ever World Cup as an independent nation. Whoever it is, we will adopt a second favourite team during the tournament (or third depending on bets) but abandon any short-lived loyalty if they come up against our boys.

Equally, all England fans will have one eye on the old enemy. Even with their skipper out injured, we will all see what the Germans are up to in the likely event we will meet them (or Portugal) at some point, and if we don't, then great because (hopefully) that means they're out.

If fans have their club heads on, they will also have one eye on players that they may be watching every week next season. Remember when Senegal turned some heads in 2002, Papa Bouba Diop and El Hadji Diouf have been in England since. While it is the biggest stage in world football, the World Cup is also an audition for players to further their careers. As fans we all look forward to pass comment on them.

These are all great little sideshows. But the biggest symptom of World Cup fever is England, the results, the performances, the players, the manager. It all started last Tuesday with the squad announcement and Ferdinand's injury on Friday. It will only get bigger and bigger. It will really kick in on Saturday night, and let's hope it lasts a whole month.