Pints of Budweiser were only made available to fans at 7pm in Doha's official fan park, three hours after England's opening World Cup game had kicked off
. The natural inclination of the South Americans to gather around a flag and sing allegiance to the mother country banished the austerity of a sterile afternoon.
Those that had entered hours in advance to lay claim to a prime spot were left to amuse themselves with face painting and a wander around the Fifa store. An hour before kick-off 20-year-old Jack Smith from Blackpool and his 39-year-old uncle Oliver from nearby Parbold had the freedom of the house. It was the first World Cup for both and neither was sure what to make of the experience.
Uncle Ollie was more disturbed by the buzz deficit at the start of his two-week trip of a lifetime. “It’s my first World Cup. We thought it would be rammed. But how often are you going to do this?” he said. “Disappointing not to be able to get a beer until 7pm when the match kicks off at 4pm. But you have to make the most of it.
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