ITV News World Cup Poll

ComRes interviewed 2,039 British adults online between 6 and 8 June 2014. Data were weighted to be representative of all GB adults aged 18+

Date Published: 10 Jun 2014

Categories: Media | Public and communities | Social | UK

Description

 COMRES / ITV NEWS POLL: QUARTER OF WORKING BRITS LIKELY TO LEAVE WORK EARLY TO WATCH WORLD CUP

The latest News Index poll conducted by ComRes for ITV News reveals that nearly a quarter (23%) of British workers say they are likely to leave work early to watch World Cup matches that kick off at 5pm, while more than one in ten (13%) are likely to skip a day off work to watch some matches.

Most people think England will be knocked out in the 2^nd Round (28%) or Quarter Final (25%), in line with the team’s performance at the last four World Cup tournaments. Around one-in-six (16%) people think that the most likely outcome is England being knocked out in the first group stage, a fate that has not befallen the team since the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

Just 3% of people think England are most likely to leave Brazil as World Cup Champions, for the first time since Bobby Moore lifted the trophy at Wembley in 1966.

The most commonly given reason for England not winning the World Cup is that English players are just not good enough. Half (49%) of those who do not think England will win the World Cup in Brazil choose this. The number of foreign players in the Premier League (38%) and the hot weather in Brazil (31%) were the two next most commonly given reasons.

Around half (52%) of the British public say they expect to be glad when the tournament is over. Nearly two thirds (63%) of women say this, compared with 40% of men. 

FULL RESULTS:

Work and the World Cup

• Over half (52%) of the British public say they expect to be glad when the tournament is over. Nearly two thirds (63%) of women say this, compared with 40% of men.
• Two-in-five (40%) say they are likely to watch all of England’s matches, while the same percentage say they will try and avoid all coverage of the World Cup.
• Employers will need to be aware of a tired workforce, with 45% of those in work saying they are likely to stay up late to watch England matches. Nearly one in six (15%) workers say they are likely to go into work late because they stayed up late the night before watching a match.
• Nearly a quarter (23%) of workers say they are likely to leave work early to watch matches that kick off at 5pm, while 13% say they are likely to skip a day off work to watch some matches.

 Q: How likely, if at all, are you to do the following during the World Cup?

Outcome	% Likely	% Unlikely	% Likely [of those in work]	% Unlikely [of those in work]
Be glad when the tournament is over	52%	39%	46%	44%
Watch all of England’s matches	40%	55%	45%	50%
Try and avoid all coverage of the World Cup	40%	55%	37%	58%
Stay up late to watch England matches	38%	57%	45%	51%
Leave work early to watch matches that kick-off at 5pm	16%	75%	23%	71%
Go into work late because you stayed up late the night before watching a match	10%	82%	15%	80%
Skip a day off work to watch some matches	9%	83%	13%	82%

 Base: All GB adults (n=2,039)

England at the World Cup

Most people think England will be knocked out in the 2^nd Round (28%) or Quarter Final (25%), in line with the team’s performance at the last four World Cup tournaments.

• Around one-in-six (16%) people think that the most likely outcome is England being knocked out in the first group stage, a fate that has not befallen the team since the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
• 6% of people think England will probably lose in the Semi Final, which last happened at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
• An optimistic 3% of people think England are most likely to leave Brazil as World Cup Champions, for the first time since Bobby Moore lifted the trophy at Wembley in 1966.
  

Q: Which of the following do you think will be the most likely outcome for England at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil?

Outcome	%
Knocked out in first group stage	16%
Knocked out in 2nd Round	28%
Knocked out in Quarter Final	25%
Lose in the Semi Final	6%
Runners Up	1%
Win the World Cup	3%
Don’t Know	21%

Base: All GB adults (n=2,039)

 

Reasons for England losing the World Cup

• The most commonly given reason for England not winning the World Cup is that English players are just not good enough. Half (49%) of those who do not think England will win the World Cup in Brazil choose this.
• Over a third (38%) say that there are too many foreign players in the Premier League, meaning that English players can’t develop. This rises to 46% among men and 47% among over 65s.
• Three in ten (31%) say it is too hot in Brazil for English players to be at their best, despite Roy Hodgson’s attempts to acclimatise players with pre-tournament friendlies in Miami.
• One in ten (9%) say that Roy Hodgson not being a good enough manager is an important reason why England will not win the World Cup.

Q: Which of the following do you think are the most important reasons why England will not win the World Cup in Brazil in 2014?

Reason	%
English players are just not good enough	49%
There are too many foreign players in the Premier League meaning that English players can’t develop	38%
It is too hot in Brazil for English players to be at their best	31%
The squad is too inexperienced	16%
Roy Hodgson is not a good enough manager	9%
England is only a small country and should not expect to win	6%
Other	4%
Don’t know	21%

Base: All respondents who don’t think England will win the World Cup (n=1,973)

 

METHODOLOGY: ComRes interviewed 2,039 British adults online between 6^th and 8^th June 2014. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of all GB adults aged 18+. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.