After all the build up, this is the week when it all begins and you won't be able to avoid Rooney and his pals for around the next month writes Andrew Tjaardstra, editor, Professional Broking. The tournament should help in keeping our minds off the cuts that the new coalition government is planning, although clearly the Emergency Budget on the 22 June is going to be extremely important for making future business plans. (We will be covering it on www.broking.co.uk and in July/August's edition of PB.)

Many are predicting that Spain are going to win this year's World Cup but there are plenty of contenders for the title including Brazil, Argentina, Holland and England, and few predicted Italy would walk away as World champions last time.

You can see an article I wrote on managing staff expectations around watching the World Cup here and we would be interested to hear what your plans are for the event. You can post them in the comments section below. Also here is a news item from our website on how much insurance is being placed as a result of the competition.  

Meanhwhile, here are some 'professional' pundits' views of who is going to win:

Communications supremo at Allianz Mark Bishop is backing Spain. Heath Lambert's master of spin Elliot Lane has bet on Holland, while Fortis' public relations maestro Paul Lynes is also going for the orange army. Helena Christopher, head of marketing and communications at QBE believes Brazil will be lifting what was originally the Jules Rimet trophy. Emma Banks, head of PR at LV corporate communication, who has just got married thinks Spain will go all the way. Marketing guru Marc DonFrancesco at Towergate is not backing part of his ancestry as he says "Italy are cr*p this time" but thinks Argentina will win with Denmark as a long shot for a good run. Paul Jacobs, head of marketing at DAS, thinks it is Brazil's time again. I'm going for Argentina.

Look out for the ball, it is brand new and already players are complaining is that it is too unpredictable, at least they have submitted their excuses in early!  

If you are Welsh, Irish or Scottish tell us who you are supporting at this year's World Cup and why. And if you have just thrown out the television in disgust at the prospect of wall to wall football tell us what you are planning instead.

World Cup Competition

We are having a special World Cup Competition this month with Equity Red Star. Up for grabs this week is a box of South African wine, and if you keep on playing for the next six weeks you can win an ipad. Please enter here, and find out the full terms and conditions. Also, you can play our World Cup free kick game from the same page - but remember the game it is just for fun!

Incisive Leadership Training

PB is pleased to announce new dates for our Leadership Training for Broker Managers course. This excellent course takes place with Marlborough Training in central London and helps students develop leadership qualities, problem solving skills, provide CPD points and in sharing knowledge with brokers. To find out more click here or e-mail brokerleaders@mtc.tc

Comment

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