It is one of the most exciting aspects of preparing for a major international tournament.
Nothing marks the start of a World Cup or European Championships quite like pinning (or usually blutacking) a fresh new wall chart in your home or workspace. Of course towards the semi-final stage it'll start to look a little torn and battered, but that just means it was well used/loved.
It's not just for show or childish excitement either. When you've got up to three games a day to savour, you need to ensure you're fully aware of who's playing and at what time. It's no exaggeration to suggest it shapes your social life and affects your working patterns for the month.
Even in these days of smartphones and calendar notifications, there's nothing quite like a physical sheet of A4, A3 or usually A2 to adorn your walls and update manually - particularly if there's the bonus of stickers. So with that in mind here's a few wall charts you can print out or order before the big kick off...
Not only is
Elliott Quince a talented artist, but he is also very generous. This A2-sized wall chart features a 1988 vintage Ruud Gullit, and all the proceeds from your £10 purchase go to charity, namely the
Luton & Dunstable Hospital Neonatal unit.
This limited edition wall chart is a work of art. Ditching the conventional linear format for a more radial design, it almost feels rude to scribble the scores in. It's not cheap at £17.99 but is beautiful and a whopping A1 in size.
The Radio Times is not just for Christmas, for you to highlight your preferred festive viewing. The TV and radio listings magazine are giving away a free wall chart with their current issue. It folds out horizontally, so you'll need to ensure you've got room...
Graphic designer Anita Roza is a Croatian Arsenal fan, but she has created this free to download wallchart that is neither affiliated to the Gunners nor biased towards her beloved Croatia. Instead you have a very smart and functional design - and it's free!
https://twitter.com/arsenaloFka/status/738332644962914304
With this monochrome beauty, the good folk at
Glory give you the option of either
downloading for free and printing your own version, or purchasing a limited edition
A2 hard copy for £5, printed on luxury textured paper. Sounds like a bargain to us...
We don't know about you, but we grew up leafing through WSC. There was a time before the internet when it was one of the few intelligent reads for folk who loved football. A pullout Euros wall chart comes free with their latest issue, along with a handy team guide.
https://twitter.com/DrEdBridges/status/733689308742332419
Talking of all things old-school, this
eye-catching effort by the Football Pink has a decidedly retro feel. Artist Stephen Gulbis has produced something that looks like Grange Hill meets Roy of the Rovers, and in a very good way. Download it for zero monies.
If your tastes are a bit more fancy and well, abstract, this conceptual beauty from the Studio Blackburn and Nirvana Creative Production House may be more your style. It's A1-sized and features coloured stickers that represent each nation. Available upon
request, obvs...
"At the end of the day, it's actually harder to gain weight properly than it is to lose it and still increase your performance."
