You wouldn’t imagine soccer being a popular water-cooler conversation topic at a Surry Hills advertising and design agency, but World Cup fever has hit us, and hard.

A lukewarm reception when the collection plate first came round the office was swiftly forgotten when the first round results started pouring in – if you remembered to actually enter your tips that is. With so many teams, so many games, and the glorious low-scoring nature of soccer, the comp leader board shuffled more times than a pair of vaudeville soft shoes. It was anyone’s game, and we loved it.
But is a game of chance really more rewarding than a game of skill? With the highs come the lows, as my desk neighbour found out early on. With the dignity of a gambler in over his head, the top spot slipped away and he is left to loudly proclaim the results of each game as they come to hand, masking his desperation to win under a feigned interest in the sport.

Take heed, tall poppies – the round of 16 is upon us.