THERE are just three weeks to go until that major sporting occasion, the World Cup, begins.

Yet right now you would be forgiven for even knowing we are close to the opening of the biggest global sporting occasion.

I have not seen any flags going up, only a few England shirts are being worn and there has been little talk generally about the event.

Of course people can point out we are a few weeks away, but remember the anticipation for tournaments used to build way before this point.

The squad advancement used to be a major announcement, but there seemed to be a collective shrug of the shoulders when that happened last week.

I can remember in my younger days - and I am showing my age now - when England didn’t do too badly at tournaments and there was optimism. Euro 96, when England reached the semi finals, is my fondest memory.

A major sporting event and success can bring the country together. After events of recent years, such as the heated referendum debate, that is needed more than ever.

But all the signs point to a general apathy towards the whole thing this time round which is a massive shame. So what is going wrong? I think there are two main issues.

Firstly, England have not made it to the quarter finals since 2006, and the last World Cup was a disaster, crashing out after just two matches. Then two years later a spirited Iceland team saw England suffer a humiliating exit from Euro 2016.

No wonder the country has lost passion for its football team.

The second issue is where the event is being held. It was always a bizarre decision to go to Russia as the country has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons in recent years. Russian hooliganism and the safety of fans will be a major talk when the event gets going.

Let’s hope the tournament passes without incident, and let’s hope excitement does the grip the nation if England do well.

• Last week’s fair point column on the Royal Wedding certainly proved divisive.

I always welcome debate on my republican views, indeed on any of my columns, although I don’t welcome being told to leave the country and the insults.

It makes me wonder have we lost the ability to have a calm debate?