**** update - i failed to notice that the 100 Costa Ricans living in London are 'spread out'. That wont do. Im sure we should be diverting much more tax money towards a special inclusion group headed by a knowledgeable speaker on Costa Rican affairs*****


OK so Ive been totally distracted by the World Cup – and a bit by work. But then again im not alone.

London has really sprung to life for this tournament as it always does. And almost every bar and pub has been decked out with at least one giant screen. I couldn’t hear a single word of commentary at yesterdays match. I know its not PC but the ‘RAF from England’ chant is pretty amusing when its not sung tooooo seriously and there aren’t any Germans about.

Preliminary numbers from 27 markets show that an average of 63 million individuals tuned in to see live coverage of Germany overwhelming Costa Rica in their 4-2 victory on June 9. In Italy, some 5.6 million watched the opening game (Germany vs. Costa Rica), but when Italy played Ghana over 20.1 million watched the game live.

Predictions are the World Cup will get a live cumulative audience of 5 billion people. That’s lot of football fans.

I nicked these stats rather shamelessly from the Evening Standard (their bar guide). They make an interesting overview of who lives in London and where – broken down by the World Cup groups.


GROUP A

1. GERMANY

Estimated London population: 60,000.
Main area: Richmond.

2. COSTA RICA

Estimated London population: 100.
Main area: Spread out.

3. POLAND

Estimated London population: 100,000.
Main areas: Balham, Streatham, Hammersmith.

4. ECUADOR

Estimated London population: 7,000.
Main area: Elephant and Castle.

GROUP B

5. PARAGUAY

Estimated London population: 150.
Main area: Spread out.

6. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Estimated London population: 23,000.
Main area: West London.

7. SWEDEN

Estimated London population: 90,000.
Main area: Edgware Road.

GROUP C

9. ARGENTINA

Estimated London population: 4,000.
Main areas: Fulham, Wandsworth, Putney, Hammersmith and Chelsea.

10. IVORY COAST

Estimated London population: 25,000.
Main area: Southwark.

11. SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

Estimated London population: 40,000.
Main areas: Hammersmith, Ealing and Notting Hill.

12. NETHERLANDS

Estimated London population: 25,000.
Main area: spread out.

GROUP D

13. MEXICO

Estimated London population: 5,000.
Main areas: Shepherd's Bush, Camden and Elephant & Castle.

14. IRAN

Estimated London population: 100,000.
Main areas: Harrow and Kensington.

15. ANGOLA

Estimated London population: 20,000.
Main areas: east and south London.

16. PORTUGAL

Estimated London population: 150,000.
Main area: Stockwell.


GROUP E

17. ITALY

Estimated London population: 75,000.
Main area: Farringdon.

18. GHANA

Estimated London population: 400,000.
Main areas: Tottenham and Edmonton.

19. USA

Estimated London population: 200,000.
Main area: spread out.

20. CZECH REPUBLIC

Estimated London population: 15,000.
Main area: Hampstead.

GROUP F

21. BRAZIL

Estimated London population: 60,000.
Main area: Bayswater, Elephant & Castle

22. CROATIA

Estimated London population: 3,400.
Main area: Westminster.

23. AUSTRALIA

Estimated London population: 200,000.
Main areas: Fulham and Shepherd's Bush.

24. JAPAN

Estimated London population: 22,800.
Main area: Totteridge.

GROUP G

25. FRANCE

Estimated London population: 135,000.
Main area: Knightsbridge.

26. SWITZERLAND

Estimated London population: 12,000.
Main area: Spread out.

27. SOUTH KOREA

Estimated London population: 20,000.
Main areas: New Malden and Kingston.

28. TOGO

Estimated London population: 500.
Main area: Spread out

GROUP H

29. SPAIN

Estimated London population: 100,000.
Main area: Notting Hill.

30. UKRAINE

Estimated London population: 10,000.
Main area: Acton.

31. TUNISIA

Estimated London population: 2,600.
Main area: North-west London.

32. SAUDIA ARABIA
Estimated London population: 8,000.
Main area: Spread out.

If you do want the list of bars here they are

I was sorry to see USA drop out but thats the thing - its about luck and refs (or playing the ref for a fool if you're an Italian) as much as anything else. Not as boring as American 'foot'ball anyway. We play that too but we dont dress up like courier despatch riders ;)

I wont be sorry to see Australia go out, or Argentina.. or Portugal obviously. England are rarely lucky with referees so I expect the quarter finals to be either a robbery or a miracle in spite of all the talent. Fingers crossed.