As the enigmatic Michael Owen once said, “There’s nothing quite like a World Cup”.
It’s that time again…the time that every football fan waits a long 4 years for…the WORLD CUP is back in Russia. Three football games a day for the next few weeks…what more could you ask for?!
Four years ago, I had the pleasure of watching the most popular tournament in the world in Spain. Fast forward four more years and I am now in Malta living life to the fullest on an island full of expats from all over the world. What better way is there to watch a multi-cultural sport in the presence of multi-cultural people?
I don’t think anyone was anticipating seeing Robbie Williams lead the opening ceremony with a rendition of songs from the late 90s. It seemed more like a throwback Thursday video to my childhood rather than a build-up to the first game kicking off.
With that being said, I did get to view everything from iGaming Elite’s very own VIP area at the World Cup Village in Spinola Bay. A fantastic place to sit in the sun, grab a beer and watch the football on a huge screen in the company of industry colleagues and mad football fans. I’ve got to say, it’s a good feeling to rock up at a big event such as this with your company’s name branded everywhere…iGaming Elite is here to prove a point and nothing is going to change – much like Putin’s stance on politics.
Being a part of the iGaming industry, the World Cup is the perfect platform to mix work with pleasure…a great way to solidify current relationships and also build new ones.
The first game wasn’t exactly star-studded; however, it did showcase a stubborn Russian back four and also Saudi Arabia’s inability to stop the ball from going into the back of the net…5 times!! I do have to admit that it would have been hilarious to watch Russia lose the opening game as hosts but it was not meant to be. With many games to follow, such as Spain v Portugal, England v Belgium and Sweden v Germany in the coming days things are going to get interesting.
Being English and also a biased football fan, I do have a gut feeling that England have a very good chance this year. I think it was Baddiel & Skinner who famously sang “Football’s coming home”. The Three Lions have no fear this time round and with Jordan Henderson having been stripped of the captaincy (he’s still playing though) …we might have a chance to prove a lot of people wrong.
We have a long summer ahead of us here in Malta and the World Cup is just the start. For anyone reading this, feel free to come and meet the iGaming Elite team in Spinola Bay. We will shout, scream, laugh and cry but most of all we will have fun!