THE World Cup is gripping the nation, but I’ve a new-found interest in watching paint dry.

THE World Cup is hugely overrated and incessant talk of it is already getting on my nerves.

With the four-week tournament kicking off tomorrow (Friday), I just can’t wait until it’s all over.

What is the appeal of watching overpaid footballers with inflated egos competing in an over-hyped tournament which will inevitably lead to disappointment and failure for England?

Commercials with tenuous links to the World Cup have been flooding our TV screens for weeks, the media has been relentless in its scrutiny of every end and side of the draw, and shop shelves are groaning under the sheer weight of World Cup merchandise tat.

We are under siege.

What finally tipped me over the edge and left me seething was a letter I received from the National Blood Service (NBS) this week.

The NBS wrote to me with notification of a blood donation session taking place in the area tomorrow.

To my amazement, the letter included the following paragraph: “Please be aware that this session is taking place on the opening day of the World Cup. Please let us know if you are unable to attend because of the football.”

What is the world coming to that the NBS feels it necessary to make this request? I can only surmise that there have been problems in the past with attendance during the World Cup.

In 2006, the NBS took to screening England games or playing radio commentary at blood donation sessions wherever possible, in a bid to stop people staying away from sessions to watch World Cup matches. How ridiculous to have to pander to adults in this way in order to make them do something so vitally important.

For goodness sake, let’s get some perspective. Blood donation is a life-saving act, and to forgo it in favour of watching a football match is unforgivably selfish.