An England superfan is heading to his ninth World Cup – but amid a ban on beer in stadiums and human rights controversies, it is set to be a tournament like no other.
From Maradona’s Hand of God goal at Mexico '86 to penalty shoot-out agony at Italia '90 and a near-miss in Russia four years ago, Kent bricklayer Terry Matson has seen it all and kept every ticket.
His love of football takes him to Qatar, where Gareth Southgate’s men kick off their Group B campaign against Iran in the capital city of Doha tomorrow (Monday).
He travels more in hope than expectation after years of false dawns since attending his first World Cup in Spain in 1982 – a 21st birthday present from his parents. “I don’t make predictions any more,” says Terry, 61, who lives in Sittingbourne. “I haven’t got a clue what’s going to happen.