Gone are the days when claims of a "24-hour bug" were enough to satisfy the boss.

The modern skiver, like England, will have to raise his or her game for the big occasion.

BBC News Online has compiled a guide to the world class excuses likely to emerge on the day.

Flu: A favourite fallback - but tends to demonstrate relatively little imagination, just like colds, sore throats, and back pain.

But, if you really must go down this route, the correct symptoms of a bout of flu are, of course, a high fever and crushing fatigue, combined with muscle aches.

The true flu sufferer will barely be able to lift his head off the pillow to make the husky, apologetic, phone call.

Colds - not nearly impressive enough

The symptoms generally appear suddenly, sparing the need for gradual deterioration in the days prior to the fixture.

In general, a solid case could knock you out for more than 72 hours - so Monday could be optional as well.

Only one problem. The flu season generally starts in November and ends in March in the UK.

Ear infection: This may sound trivial, but the pain caused by a middle ear infection is rated among the most powerful in the world, alongside kidney stones and childbirth.

However, the infection is the easiest of these to pull off at short notice, particularly for a man.

For maximum effect, the phone call to work should therefore be made by a spouse, partner or parent, with the worker clearly audible in the background screaming in agony.

Conveniently, the infection, with antibiotic treatment, can resolve itself relatively quickly.

A fulsome description of the grisly discharge which can accompany this recovery should be enough to deflect all but the most persistent questioning by an employer.

Migraine: An excuse received with varying degrees of sympathy in the office.

A migraine, though, is much much more than a simple headache.

Migraine madness: Is yours authentic?

Preparation is key. Many migraine sufferers have an "aura", which appears in the hour or so before an attack.

This can involve flashing lights - or even temporary loss of vision.

Other pre-migraine symptoms can include weakness or tingling of the limbs, fatigue or difficulties with speech.

The headache phase of the migraine can last anything up to two days, and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

However, for those without the foresight to "have" at least a couple of introductory attacks for the benefit of the boss, the arrival of a first-ever migraine on match-day may be greeted with some suspicion.

Winter Vomiting Virus: Almost perfect. The fact that we are in June should be no obstacle to the success of this excuse.

Malaria: Shows a certain style

After all, our brave boys brought a version of this back from Afghanistan only a few weeks ago.

WVV - or the "Norwalk virus", if technical terms are required - is highly contagious, and involves projectile vomiting and possibly diarrhoea.

Your period of self-imposed quarantine will be positively encouraged, rather than frowned upon.

'Women's problems': Male management everywhere is putty in the hands of a female employee offering this excuse.

Attempts to offer further explanation are invariably rejected by all but the most foolhardy bosses.

Less successful in the hands of even the most determined male employee, although anything to do with the removal of haemorrhoids may have a similar effect.

For the more flamboyant: Some workers may feel that a run-of-the-mill tonsilitis or chest infection may not fit the bill when it comes to a special occasion such as this.

And with the semi-finals falling on a weekday later in the month, it may be that a cover-all illness is needed.

Recent returnees from foreign trips can claim far more exotic illnesses.

Malaria is nigh-on perfect, as some surviving patients may suffer "relapses" in subsequent years, each requiring a prolonged period of bed-rest.

However, the more tropical the illness, the harder it is to pull it off.

A brush with Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, for example, requires a previous trip to Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Eastern Europe, where the tick that carries the virus lives.

The prospective faker will also have to reel off a list of symptoms including bleeding gums, rash, fever and renal failure.

If you're that desperate to see the rest of the World Cup - why not just resign?