World Cup Fever has arrived!

World Cup fever has been sweeping the nation every since, well, the last one finished. Whether you like it or not, for the next two months the country will go football mad, and finally I've been swept up by the cancerous event.

Traditionally, the summer gives those less-attached to the sport a break from the constant pub talk of scorelines, criticism of players far beyond the talents of the average pundit and the discussion of high-rolling transfers. Not a week goes by without wives, girlfriends, and rugby-loving friends who hate the game hear news of whats-his-name spraining his ankle during training, before recovering and scoring a hat-trick whilst their national manager watches on from the stands.

Cup fever has a tendancy to sweep the nation effortlessly. The FA - sorry, the "FAmous Cup" as they call it these days - brings together fans from the likes of Premier League champions Chelsea to lowly, unknown towns playing dozens of divisions lower. Just take little-league diamonds in the rough Havant and Waterlooville as an example. In 2008, they caused an FA Cup scare of huge proportions as they lead twice against Premier League giants Liverpool before losing 5-2 in the fourth round of the cup after knocking out higher league opponents such as Notts County and Swansea City in the previous two rounds. Fans from all over came to support the club, propped forward on settees egging on the team to cause a cup scare.

Yet again, millions tuned in just this year to follow now-Championship outfit Leeds United first destroy the hopes of a treble for European-class Manchester United and force Champions League-destined Tottenham Hotspur to a replay in the corresponding round.

The World Cup has, and always will be, one of the biggest televised events in the world, vying for viewers with the likes of the annual Superbowl in America or - dare I say it - the Eurovision Song Contest. Flags are increasingly emerging from top-floor households, attached to car windows, or sported by beer-bellied bald men in scummy pubs daily.

With just a day to go, millions upon millions of people are gearing up for what can only be described as an epic contest between the world's greatest footballing nations. Teams from America, Europe, Australasia, Asia, and Africa will lock horns before a champion will emerge within the next 5 or so weeks to state their claim on the Jules Rimet Trophy.

In 2006, over 300 million of us tuned in globally to watch Italy triumph, with even more expected this time around. Whether you like it or not, World Cup fever has plagued the nation, the continent, the world, and is set to stay right up until a winner is crowned on 11th July. Wives, girlfriends, football haters - beware.