Larry Ryan: The World Cup isn't on in Qatar, it's on the telly

LAUNCH: Launching RTE's World Cup coverage are Tony O'Donoghue, Shay Given, Aine O'Gorman and Richie Sadlier with kids painted in World Cup colours. Pic: RTE Sport

Salve your conscience. The World Cup isn’t taking place in Qatar, this World Cup, like all the others, is on the telly. Do we need to drag Con Houlihan into things one more time to remind us that going to the World Cup involves missing the World Cup?

It has sort of been on the telly since 1954, when Eurovision started sending around a few broadcasts of the odd game, if they felt like it. And it officially moved to the telly in 1970, when adidas designed the classic Telstar to be more visible on black and white screens. And Pele tied his laces at kickoff to get his Puma boots on camera.