Journalist Andy Mitten believes that football is more important to the people of northern England than anywhere else in the world.
The United We Stand editor, who lives in Catalonia, spoke to OTB AM about what the sport means to people and how cultural attitudes can oscillate.
"Football is really important to people in England. I'm in Spain, covering Barcelona and Real Madrid - football just isn't quite as important there."
"I have travelled to 26 countries around the world and I don't think I found anywhere in the world where football matters as much as the north of England - and maybe Glasgow."
Mitten compared Spanish fans, particularly in Catalonia, to those in his native England: "Your typical Catalan might say 'Yeah, well you've got nothing better to do in Manchester because it rains all the time. We can go to the beach, we are more cultured - we're actually superior to you!'"
Andy also emphasised what a win would mean for English fans: "People really live in hope, and if England were to win the World Cup - and I don't think they will - wow. It would be just absolutely massive.
"My mum, who doesn't go to games, knows what is going on at Manchester United. It's a real talking point, and England expects. It is a huge, huge football country."
Mitten also gave his opinion on the nostalgia of Euro '96 and how the national team have performed since then.
"People talk about Euro '96 as it being this great coming-of-age of life!
"England's national team have consistently underachieved, given the strength of the sport in the country and given the strength of players coming through."
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