Why FIFA's better than the real World Cup

The World Cup is going to be great, but the virtual version may well be better.

If you like football you're almost certainly looking forward to the World Cup next month. Hell, even if you don't like football you may get caught up in the whole thing. But, if you're English, it's bound to end in heartbreak. It doesn't have to be like that, though. With the World Cup 2010 video game, things can be different.

You decide who's in the England squad and who makes the first XI

Remember when Sven-Göran Eriksson brought Theo Walcott to the World Cup and didn't use him? That was crap, wasn't it? What about this year? Think Sunderland goal machine Darren Bent deserves a place on the plane to South Africa? What about Aston Villa speedster Gabby Agbonlahor? Should Jermain Defoe start up front with Wayne Rooney? What about the "Gerrard and Lampard can't play in midfield together" dilemma? England coach Fabio Capello can't please everyone, but with FIFA you can certainly please yourself. Each international team has a number of reserves you can substitute in for the default squad players. Waiting in the wings for England are the aforementioned Bent and Agbonlahor, diminutive Man City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, Everton utility man Phil Jagielka and West Ham battering ram Carlton Cole, among others. Best of all, not only can you decide the 23 players who go to the World Cup, but the starting line-up as well. Take that Emile Heskey.