You are going to be hearing a lot of Guy Mowbray over the next month. Here the York-based voice of the BBC’s World Cup commentary team talks to STEVE CARROLL about the tournament in South Africa.

HE must be the only Englishman who would enjoy seeing his country involved in a penalty shoot-out in the next few weeks.

While the heartbreak of Turin, Wembley, St Etienne, Lisbon and Gelsenkirchen are still fresh in the minds of all England supporters, Guy Mowbray says he doesn’t fear another major tournament clash being decided by spot kicks.

As long as England win.

York-based Mowbray has got one of the best jobs on the planet.

Save actually donning an England shirt and playing in a World Cup encounter, commentating on the national team’s games – and on the final – has to be the next best thing.

Mowbray, 38, takes over from veteran mouthpiece John Motson as the BBC’s main voice at the football carnival in South Africa.

It’s a chance to talk himself into the nation’s football folklore.

Who can forget Kenneth Wolstenholme’s famous “they think it’s all over” in 1966, Hugh Johns’ immortal “what a save, Gordon Banks” in 1970, or Motson’s “England have done it, in the last minute of extra time” when David Platt fired Bobby Robson’s men past Belgium in 1990?

Mowbray says he has nothing scripted. Nothing planned. Events will take their course.

“I have no idea what I am going to say,” he said. “I am going to enjoy it. I never prepare anything. The night before a big game you will think about things – and you might make little notes – but that is mainly about the introduction.

“You can’t have anything ready. Kenneth Wolstenholme didn’t know there was going to be someone on the pitch.”

But while the notebook may be empty, Mowbray is acutely aware of the opportunity he has been given – and who he is succeeding at the helm.

He added: “I went to watch the film One Night In Turin and I was sat there and, half way through, I had a bit of a moment when it kind of dawned on me for the first time.

“When I heard those lines, which have been around for years, I thought ‘that could be me’. If they make a film about 2010, it could be me in years to come. I plan not to think about it again.

“To be honest, the football takes care of it. It’s the moment that matters. The line takes care of itself. It’s not about me, it’s about the football. I don’t plan to get it wrong though.

“It is a great honour to succeed the man (Motson) I grew up listening to. It’s quite daunting but I have done big games before and I have been a commentator on BBC or ITV for 11 years – and longer if you include the time I spent at Eurosport. It’s my fourth World Cup.

“I am looking forward to it. It’s really exciting.”

Mowbray says he has been cramming since March – putting together those detailed notes, the stats, the facts and figures which are vital to sounding informed in the world’s premier football tournament.

It’s a never-ending job. While the tournament is in full flow, that precious memory stick – an heirloom even more precious than the microphone – will get ever fuller with World Cup data.

That might give him an insight into how Fabio Capello’s boys will perform when they kick-off their tournament against the United States on Saturday.

Just don’t expect him not to support his country.

“I am not going to join those who are disappointed or pessimistic about England’s chances,” Mowbray said. “I am not going to say we are going to win it either. If we get out of the group then anything is possible.

“They will be as good as any other team that get out of the group. Too many people are all doom and gloom. I think if you can win two games playing badly then it is not a bad sign.

“The best team in the world is Brazil or Spain, but the best team rarely win. We have got a chance, let’s just enjoy it.

“I don’t intend to stay neutral. I make no apologies for it. You are not biased. You call the game as it is. If something is poor, you say it is poor. But I am an England supporter.”

Especially during penalties.

“I would love to (commentate on penalties) if we win,” he said. “I love penalties. I love any game that goes to penalties. As long as we win.”