Something for the World Cup Weekend
It's all kicking off with these pocket soccer games
The hourly countdown is into single digits now, as the world's greatest sporting event (yeah, you wish Olympic committee) is only a sneaky commute away from kicking off.
Love it or loath it, you're simply not going to be able to avoid the World Cup for the next month. Really, the only real issue is how to fill all those hours between matches (or even, in the case of Italy's dull defensive match-ups, during them).
Fortunately help is at hand (or should that be handheld?) in the form of a barrage of pocket soccer games. The perfect accompaniment to beer and bratwurst, these games will enable you to relive the glories, fix the travesties and generally make sure that England win this time.
For PSP owners, it boils down to a two-way split between the official game of the tournament 2006 FIFA World Cup and Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 5. Whilst we'd lean towards the former (yes, I know, we were just as surprised when we got hold of it), the votes in our recent World Cup poll made it quite clear that Pro Evo remains the fans' favourite.
In contrast, EA's official game for Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance owners represents the best simulation of the tournament largely because they're the only ones available. They're not great if you're an aficionado of the beautiful digital game.
Mobile gamers might also be wise to steer clear of FIFA (certainly the 3D version) and plump for either the up-to-the-minute 2006 Real World Football or the decidedly old-skool Sensible Soccer.
Or, for a smarter variation on the theme, you could turn to the humorous Pub Football, the puzzling World Soccer Puzzle 2006 or the brain-taxing trio of Football Trivia, Soccer Quiz 2006 or Trivial Pursuit: Football Edition.
Then again if you fancy yourself as more Sven than Becks, the allure of Manager Pro World Championship Edition could prove as tempting as a secretary to mobile gamers. Meanwhile those with a PSP and a monikered tracksuit have something of selection dilemma, with both Championship Manager 2006 and Football Manager Handheld vying for your time.
Finally, if you want to emulate both Sven and Becks, there's always the femme football attractions of Sexy Soccer. It offers a whole new meaning to the chants of Come on Enngerrrrland!
All the highlighted games are available now – so if you fancy transferring in something for the weekend, simply click on the game name to be sent faster than a Beckham free kick towards a no-fuss, no subscription game-buying page.