World Cup Diary: Journalists are put on #SuarezWatch

The media have whipped themselves up into a huge frenzy owing to Luis Suarez’s unsavoury World Cup exploits. 

But as we await to hear the outcome of what punishment (if any?!) FIFA will dish out to the Uruguyan chomp chump, I’ve been making myself busy.

Brazilian soap operas, some Lionel Messi magic, a fruitless duty free trip and some surprisingly confident Switzerland fans all make the cut in this latest entry.

World Cup Diary – Tuesday 24 June

08:30 – Up at a normal hour for the first time in over two weeks. I’m a new man and that candle has been restored.

09:10 – Keeping tabs on the Suarez situation and trading seem to think the ban will be a long one.

We don’t go down the ‘who will be bite next route’ some of our rivals have, which by the look of Twitter has clearly irked journalists.

Barcelona the favourites to sign him should he leave.

10:00 – The Suarez news is a godsend for the England camp who can slink back home safe in the knowledge that he’s taken the glare of attention away from them entirely.

Many of the news journalists who would otherwise have been going home have been told to stay put on #Suarezwatch.

13:00 – It’s football time again and Nigeria and Argentina don’t mess around at the start. Another game chock full of goals with both teams to score punters in the clover again.

Argentina look like they are just getting into gear – largely thanks to Messi – and I’d favour them over Brazil right now at the prices.

14:00 –  What did I say about Messi? There’s not much more I can say to do him justice. Those on him to be the top scorer and his country to the win the tournament must be starting to believe.

15:14 – On Saturday afternoons following Channel 4 Racing I often end up unwittingly watching the Come Dine With Me repeat which follows and a similar situation is starting to develop in Brazil with the soap on directly after the early set of games getting the same treatment.

So it seems, soap storylines cross continents and even a layman like me can tell your man in the picture there is guilty as sin when it comes to the love triangle unfolding.  As engrossing as it is, I can’t say I’ll be looking to catch up with ‘Senhora O Destino’ when I get home.

16:10 – Back up to the roof terrace to capture some preview footage for the next day’s games.  Pretty impressed with my panoramic snap if I’m being honest.

20:00 – I’ll be strung up if I come home from this trip empty handed so I head to the Rio Sul shopping centre.

One gentlemen’s outfitter trying to differentiate from the competition during the World Cup by setting up a window display dedicated to rugby.

Pretty sure this is the last place they play rugby on the planet.

21:30 –  The Professor’s Brazilian cousin spotted.

22:00 – I leave empty handed . The pressure will be on but I make it no bigger than 6/4 Mr Duty Free saves the day.

23:00 –  Swiss fans, who I come across for the first time this tournament out in small but vocal pockets on the Copacabana.

They don’t seem fazed about facing Argentina in the next round and believe in their own superstar Shaqiri following his hat-trick today.

Good luck to them! And on that note, I’m out for another day.

Time for a beer on the beach for the second last time this trip.

Better make the most of it.

Alex

Read all about my World Cup odyssey on Ladbrokes News and follow me on Twitter @LadsAlex!

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £100 in free bets