ENGLAND’S HOPES of winning the World Cup received a boost today after a fan told colleagues that he had a funny feeling that 2010 is “going to be our year”.
Cookery and pets expert Ken Glib told friends at Waterstones (Reading branch) that, without precisely knowing why, he felt this tournament would be the one to end 44 years of torment.
“He walked into the staff room and came out with it like it was the most natural thing in the world,” said Head of 3 for 2 Fiction Kate Broach. “Obviously this was great news for all of us as we’re desperate for England to win. Before this I doubted our chances, but I’m convinced now that I’ll be celebrating come July 12.”
News of Glib’s exciting revelation quickly spread around the Waterstones Intranet system, and a straw poll carried out at the time of going to press found that 85 per cent of Waterstones employees and 70 per cent of booksellers in general now think that England will bring the trophy home.
When a sceptical colleague questioned whether Glib had realised that Spain and Brazil were strong favourites, while Argentina and Holland also had very strong squads, Glib shot back: “I see where you are coming from, but I repeat that I have a feeling in my gut that England will win.”
He added that he was “definitely right” this time around, despite a poor track record in predictions. Previous funny feelings have included England to win the World Cup in 1998, 2002 and 2006, England to win Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, and Same Difference to win X Factor 2007.
Glib also said that when England come home victorious he hopes people will remember his proclamation and admit that it was “spooky”.
And if England fail, which Glib stressed was “highly unlikely” given the overpowering funniness that he has been feeling, people would probably pass his prediction off as “high spirits”, as had been the case on previous occasions.
Published June 12, 2010

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