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The Ultimate World Cup Den

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World Cup 2010 logo
World Cup 2010 logo

World_Cup_2010_logoIt’s four years since the last one, and there won’t be another four years, so if you’re planning on watching the World Cup this summer, why not do it right? Chris Spann from moneysupermarket.com’s home insurance team tells us how it’s done…

Whenever I settle down in front of the box – for a movie, the footy, whatever, I want to make sure I have the best possible time I can. The television watching experience – while seemingly simple to untrained eyes – is something that can take years to perfect – but worry not, I’m here to help.

Settling down in front of the TV covers three main areas, each of which I’m going to try and cover within this article. First off is audiovisual, that being what you see and hear, and the equipment you use to do so. A black and white portable will do if there’s nothing else available, for example – but c’mon, we’re supposed to be doing things properly here!

Next up is comfort, which refers to both the environment you’re in, and also what you sit/lie/recline on while you’re absorbing all that wonderful telly; and last (but by no means least) is sustenance. A game takes the best part of two hours, and if I’m in for the long haul, I want ice cold drinks and I want snacks.

Of course, many people think that enjoying the game in the pub is the best way to watch the footy, but this is easily recreated at home by having someone poor warm beer on you while shouting obscenities at a telly you can’t hear.

First up is audiovisual equipment, and let’s be honest, this is an easy one. You want a HD TV, and you want it to be as big as the space can allow. This is an important distinction however; don’t just buy the biggest TV you can find and cram it into your flat, as you’ll end up sat on the balcony just so you can see it properly. For most rooms a fifty inch screen will probably be plenty big enough, but those of you with either particularly small or large spaces should adjust accordingly.

Sky+ is also a definite – I’ve missed enough goals while dashing to the loo before now, and I’ll be damned if I can’t pause a match when I find the guy with the rude sounding name – There’s one every World Cup. Sky often run deals for new customers, so it may be worth keeping an aye out for what you can get hold of.

Next out the gate is comfort, and this is likely a question of personal taste more than anything else. If you’re the sort of gent who likes to be off the floor, then look no further than the old classic, a La-Z-Boy recliner. They’re a little expensive, this is true, but if you’ve got between £600 and £1500 burning a hole in your back pocket, watching England crash out in the semis will at least be a little more… comfortable.

But let’s say that a La-Z-Boy ain’t your scene, or you can’t justify spending hundreds of pounds on something that’s purely for putting your backside on. Why not buy a beanbag? They come in a ridiculous range of sizes, some so big you could be lost for days inside them. They’re cheaper too, a luxury top-end one only knocking you back around £100 or so.

And finally: Food. A mini fridge is a must, lets get that established straight away. I’m not talking about one of those little ones either; I talking the thirty can ones. Plenty of room in there for your drinks, and any dip/leftover pizza you might want to keep cool should cram in there just nicely as well.

If you fancy something a little different though, why not try brewing your own beer for the World Cup? I’m not talking a bathtub and a stick operation either, many place will now let you buy ‘brew your own’ kits, allowing you to reasonably easily create your own special concoction, before offering it to unsuspecting mates.

Whichever country you’re following this year, make sure you do it properly. Unplug the phone, lock the doors and draw the curtains, then settle down in your den and enjoy the beautiful game in all it’s international glory…