Charlie Nicholas, Graeme Souness, and Gordon Strachan are back for another tongue-in-cheek Paddy Power advert, this time taking aim at England ahead of the Three Lions' World Cup third-place play-off against France.
England vs France for Bronze Medal
England and France will battle it out for the 'bronze medal' on July 18 in Miami after both sides fell short of reaching the World Cup final. The Irish bookmaker has once again enlisted the trio of Scottish football legends, who have become a social media hit throughout the tournament by dressing as England's opponents and pledging their support to rival nations.
The three wind-up merchants have already fronted adverts ahead of England's knockout ties against Mexico, Norway, and Argentina, with each video seeing them adopt new identities, jerseys, and accents to wind up English fans. Now, they've switched their allegiance with a new cheeky advert pleading their allegiance to France.
The Advert's Characters
The advert opens with Charlie Nicholas, who has renamed himself Charles De Nicolas, dressed as the Phantom from The Phantom of the Opera, complete with the iconic half-mask and cape. He declares: "We're easy targets, the French. People always stop me in the street and say, 'Charlie why do you have to look so bloody french?' But I don't care what they say. You know why. Because we're in the final of la Coupe Du Monde!"
An Irish voiceover quickly interrupts: "No you're not Charlie. It's Spain versus Argentina in the final," before Nicholas dismisses the correction with: "Same difference."
Strachan and Souness Join the Mockery
The spotlight then turns to Gordon Strachan, now calling himself Gaspard Stracque, wearing a striped top, navy beret and red neck scarf. He boasts: "I don't think anybody can argue, we've been the best team at this World Cup. And now we face the old enemy." The narrator interrupts once again, asking: "Are you seriously that bothered about England winning the third place play off?"
Looking horrified, Strachan replies: "They're the enemy, pal! They're still crying over the Norman conquest of 1066. But if we hadn't invaded then you wouldn't have the English language as you know it today." With a grin, he adds: "You're welcome."
Graeme Souness then appears as Guillaume Sounet, wearing red, white and blue and smoking a fake cigarette, insisting he will only speak French. The voiceover asks: "You're a big fan of the French national team and this isn't just because you can't stomach England winning a meaningless game?" Souness simply replies: "Oui." The narrator follows up with: "So you agree that Paul Pogba is one of your country's greatest ever talents?" Looking down sheepishly, the former Liverpool player reluctantly answers: "Oui."
Final Dig at England
The advert ends back with Nicholas, as he prepares a frog leg piece. The football star cannot resist one final dig at England. He says: "We will be bringing that beautiful third place trophy back to Paris. As for the English, they're in for a few more years of hurt." Signing off in typical Paddy Power fashion, he jokes: "It's coming home, is it? Mon œil (Yeah, right!) Vive la France!"
