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Rory McIlroy has an important couple of weeks coming up, what with the Irish Open – which gets underway today – and the Open at Carnoustie the week after next.

But that’s not to say that golf is the only thing on his mind.

Like millions around the world, the four-time major winner has been following the World Cup action from Russia.

And whilst impressed by England’s penalty shootout victory over Colombia on Tuesday night, McIlroy isn’t quite ready to buy into the “football’s coming home” hysteria that is currently sweeping the nation.

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“I think they have got a great draw,” said the 28-year-old, who is on home soil at the Irish Open this week. “I think Sweden is as good as they could have hoped for in the quarter-finals. They have got a good chance.

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“You know, as much as we all like to say we don’t want England to win, I think there’s a part of us that would and it would be great.
“But there’s a long way to go. I still think France are the favourites and we’ll see what happens.”

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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