The England team might be booking their flights home but World Cup football fever was still alive and kicking at one Norfolk school yesterday.
Pupils at Litcham Primary School, near Dereham, were planning to head back to school after home time with their families to watch England's dead rubber against Costa Rica last night on a big screen in the hall.
And before the match they were keen to show off some of their nifty football skills and give the EDP some insightful opinions as to the England team's dismal performances to rival any expert commentator.
'I think the heat has got to them and slowed them down,' said 11-year-old Gracie Englefield. 'I think Costa Rica will win or it will be 1-1,' she predicted.
While Alfie Langham and George Upton, also both 11, were more confident and felt an England win was on the cards.
'Even though they are out I think England will play their best to show they are not rubbish,' said Alfie. George added: 'They need to get their midfield and defence sorted out.'
With a World Cup wall chart being meticulously kept up to date with results in the corridor there was also much discussion over who would top our group and whether Italy or Uruguay would qualify alongside Costa Rica.
Headteacher David Simington said the children had really got into the World Cup spirit so it was a shame England's involvement was coming to an end.
'We planned the big screen ages ago because it was a 5pm kick off and thought families would like to come down and watch it together,' he said.
'It was supposed to be a celebration of seeing England go through to the next round but sadly that hasn't happened. The children were so keen for it to happen and we were expecting about 100 people but unfortunately because England are out that number has dropped to about 20 or 30. But we decided to still go ahead because we still support England.
'There will be some refreshments and lots of flag waving whatever the result.'
He said the school was keen to raise its sports profile and they had started having inter-school matches in football and netball which had also led to a parents' club.
'There is a lot more interest growing in the community to take part in sport at the school. And this World Cup has still been fantastic to watch and the children can take inspiration from the top players and try to emulate them.'
* Clink on the link above for more action and opinion from the Litcham Linekers
* Do you have a World Cup story? Email andrew.fitchett@archant.co.uk
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