England go into their World Cup showdown with Mexico backed by an unlikely secret army of supporters - from Germany. Though traditional football rivals, many Germans have switched their allegiance to the Three Lions since their own national team was booted out of the tournament by Paraguay last week. They will now be cheering on England in tomorrow's early hours epic at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for a place in the quarter-finals.
The Unlikely Alliance
The unlikely alliance between two of football's staunchest rivals is down to a hat-trick of mutual loves for super striker Harry Kane, Lions' boss Thomas Tuchel - and darts. Captain Fantastic Kane has become a German football God since signing for Bayern Munich three years ago. He has banged in 98 goals in 94 games, finished top scorer in three successive seasons and helped the club win back-to-back Bundesliga titles and two cups.
But the Germans are not just wild about Harry for his football. They love the way the 32-year-old star from Leytonstone, east London, has embraced their culture. He has donned traditional lederhosen - brown leather shorts - to celebrate titles, munched white sausage Weisswurst and supped the nation's legendary beer.
German Manager Leading England
The Germans also love the fact England has turned to a Bavarian boss to try and win the World Cup. Tuchel, 52, won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and German cup with Borussia Dortmund before taking over as Three Lions' coach - and admitted at the World Cup he still supports his homeland despite managing England.
The two nations also share a mutual obsession with one of the world's fastest growing sports - darts. After a record eight Germans qualified for the world championship at London's Ally Pally in January, Deutschland fans are set to dominate the crowd when it moves to a bigger new venue next year.
Official Support from German Embassy
A spokesman for the German embassy in London told the Daily Star Sunday England could rely on their support to win the World Cup. They said: “While I can't speak for the whole of Germany one thing is clear - here at the German Embassy in London we're now rooting for England. The cherry on the Blackforest Gateau will be if honorary Bavarian Harry Kane scores the winning goal to clinch it for the Three Lions.”
A German broadcaster said: “The level of support for England here is huge. Harry Kane is a German legend. To Bayern Munich fans he is a God. England are many Germans' second team and now we are out they can rely on whole-hearted backing. Hopefully the players will hear the cheers all the way from the Marienplatz.”
Irony of a German Manager Ending England's Drought
England's sole World Cup triumph came at Wembley in 1966 with a 4-2 extra-time victory over West Germany. Should the Three Lions lift the famous trophy for the first time since, the broadcast exec admitted many would get a kick out of the irony that the only way England could end 60 years of hurt was with a German in charge. “Let's face it if Germany can't win we might as well have a German manager lift the World Cup,” they said. “We Germans…we know how to get results. You may have Luke Littler in the darts but we've got Thomas Tuchel. Just maybe der fußball kommt nach hause.”
