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World Cup 2014: One Direction favourites to provide England's official song for Brazil

Pop quintet priced at 10-1 to sing Roy Hodgson's team to victory

James Orr
Friday 18 October 2013 18:48 BST
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One Direction attend the World Premiere of 'One Direction: This Is Us'
One Direction attend the World Premiere of 'One Direction: This Is Us' (Getty images)

With England safely through to the World Cup, the next pressing concern for the FA is to decide on the musical accompaniment for Roy Hodgson’s boys’campaign in Brazil, and the bookies’ favourite for that prestigious accolade - One Direction.

The pop quintet, who shot to world-wide fame after competing on the X Factor, and are now capable of stirring global hysteria, have been priced at 10-1 with Coral, leading comedian Peter Kay (12-1), Olly Murs (16-1) and the multi-tasking James Corden (16-1).

It has been a mixed bag of success for England’s theme songs ahead of major tournaments, from the joyous ‘Back Home’ in 1970, New Order’s 'World in Motion' complete with memorable John Barnes cameo in 1990 and the Lightning Seeds’ 'Three Lions' in 1996, to the forgettable 'World At Your Feet' by Embrace in 2006 and 'We’re On The Ball', sung by none other than Ant and Dec in 2002.

One degree of caution before you run down to the bookies though, England have not had an official song since 2006.

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