Well done to Manchester Law Society for being first off the mark in what we anticipate will be an absolute overload of World Cup-related legal hoo-ha this summer, and with one of the better ones too, we'd wager. The society and Manwood Wines are putting together an event at Indian restaurant Shimla Pinks for members to bring staff and/or clients. It kicks off with a beer-tasting competition, 'pub-style quiz' and yummy-looking Indian buffet ahead of the evening game between England and Sweden, the final group match, which will be shown on the obligatory big screens. If it's anything like the same fixture in the last World Cup, the beer may be vital to make the evening pass - especially since England have failed to beat Sweden for aeons - but sponsored by Lipson Lloyd Jones and with all profits going to the Five Stars Scanner Appeal, it seems fine value at £45 a head. We wouldn't want to intrude on private grief, but perhaps the reason for such advanced planning is that the good folk of Manchester are already writing off this football season - United, of course, were dumped from Europe somewhat earlier than normal and lag miles behind Chelsea, while City lurch inconsistently in mid-table - and looking forward to happier times this summer.