BOSSES must be grateful to World Cup organisers for scheduling England's first group match against Paraguay on a Saturday.

Had it been Friday, they may have faced a sudden epidemic of sick workers.

There may be the odd outbreak of coughs and sniffles at about 4pm on Thursday, June 15 by pure coincidence an hour before England's Trinidad and Tobago match. But the final group game against Sweden on Tuesday, June 20, is at a very helpful 8pm.

How nice to be able to watch most of England's opening matches without the guilt trip that goes with throwing a sickie.