14 | R&A Guildford & Villages August 2014

First things first… how was Brazil? Brazil was incredible. I was staying in a hotel just off Copacabana beach less than five minutes walk from the fanzone; the ideal spot to soak up the atmosphere. Watching a Brazil match up in a Rio favela will certainly stick in the memory. The reputation of the favelas isn’t good, and we had to jump through hoops to be allowed to go by the BBC, but once we arrived we were made to feel extremely welcome. People there who appear from the outside to have nothing are blessed with a wonder-ful sense of fun and community and are far richer than many affluent people I’ve encountered. The atmosphere after each Brazil match was something to behold; a sea of yellow on the streets with dancing and singing long into the night.

What was more disappointing, England’s perfor-mance, or having to come home early?To be honest, having to come home early. England were never going to win the tournament but to bow out so early meant my trip was cut short. I had lots planned and a Brazil World Cup is a once in a lifetime experience so to have it curtailed by a typically toothless England team was gutting. At events like this the thing I always enjoy most is the unique atmosphere and energy, the sport itself is almost secondary and in Brazil this was especially the case. Rio is an amazing place whenever you visit but to be there during a World Cup is simply spectacular and I certainly didn’t want it to end when it did.

What could England have done differently?Difficult to say as it was hard to fault the approach. They set out to attack and there was a lot of praise for their

performance in their tournament opener despite defeat to Italy. I feel the problems with the England team run far deeper than tactics or approach. In a nutshell it’s a ques-tion of mentality, identity, coaching, expectation and much more besides. I can’t see it changing any time soon, and believe Greg Dyke’s ‘2022 World Cup winners’ target to be fanciful at best.

How did you get into sports presenting?I grew up in a sport-loving household and was encour-aged to do journalism by one of those career aptitude tests at school. I worked in news initially but when Britain won the right to host the Olympics in 2005 I knew I wanted to work at that event in some capacity. I got to do it for Radio 1 to an audience of millions, which was beyond my initial expectations and is certainly another lifetime scrapbook moment. Right now it’s a great time to be working in sport. Having a home Olympics, a Mur-ray Wimbledon win and a Brazil World Cup isn’t a bad three years.

When you’re at home in Surrey, how do you spend your free time?Oxshott village sports club is where my tennis memories are! Tennis is my favourite sport to present and play. My best friend and his family live opposite fortunately so I can still pop in and remind myself of my long forgotten on court triumphs! Other than that I enjoy a drink with my parents on Dorking high street when I have time to visit and Reigate is a favourite too, partly because of friends and their babies who live there and I enjoy taking in a rugby match at Esher RFC, where I once plied my trade as a scrum half to keep my dad happy.

‘England were never going

to win...’

Talking Point <<

Having returned home to Surrey, BBC Radio 1’s sports reporter Simon Mundie reveals why he loves Rio and his thoughts on why it all went wrong for England