As England waits for the World Cup 2018 decision Alex Thomson says the rumour mill is running rife among journalists in Zurich.
Never in the field of sporting conflict, have so many been gathered, in such snow, at such expense, to say so much about so little.
It would have taken the wind from Churchill’s sails.
All around the vast Zurich auditorium groups of global journos are avidly discussing the signals, hints, rumours, allegations.
“Saw Eusebio last night,” said one observer, “he didn’t look like it’s in the bag.”
“See the Ozzies’ body language,” says a Sydney accent, “I tell you mate – it’s in the bag.”
And so it goes on around the bars and cafes of snowy Zurich.
“The thing is,” a prominent BBC radio presenter whispers to me, “the Royal thing really counts – all the FIFA wives want to meet the Prince.”
I could go on. Everybody else is, on and off air.
And the wonderful thing is that nobody really has a clue about what is happening.
All we do know of course is that money talks and money is not what Team Willy can come up with.
So across the day various teams will push out their “One Final Push” videos and England’s Cry Harry pitch is coming up soon.
Back home of course opinion is divided. Is it an heroic effort to get football to come home – or a demeaning and humiliating spectacle of our leaders going to abase themselves to an organisation mired in allegations of corruption?
Either way a lot of people will be happy and there is no such thing as a good or bad outcome.
Like the weather – it’s either wonderful or disastrous.
Unless you’re a Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish fan of course – in which case you’re probably rooting for Team Panorama and a big fat NO.