Today - USA fans outnumber England, Nelson Mandela supports Algeria, Venables on the rise and more...
- - -
It's a well known fact that England have the most passionate, committed and mad football fans on the planet...isn't it?
In Rustenburg on Saturday, fans of the Three Lions will be heavily outnumbered by their American counterparts after the US sold around 130,000 tickets for the tournament - almost double the 71,000 taken by English supporters.
US Soccer Federation boss Sunil Gulati said: "This says a lot about the growth of the game in the US. It also says a lot about the size, wealth and diversity of our country."
Among those in attendance for Saturday's crucial clash will be former president Bill Clinton and current vice president Joe Biden.
- - -
Sticking with the president theme and Algeria defender Madjid Bougherra believes that former South African president Nelson Mandela will be supporting his country at the World Cup.
Bougherra said: "Mandela received military training in Algeria before he was jailed on Robben Island. He has never forgotten the warmth and friendship he received in our country.
"For that reason we expect him and the South African people to adopt Algeria as their second team at the World Cup."
Nice idea Madjid but you'll both be going home after the group stage.
- - -
With no official England World Cup song, a number of 'artists' have come up with their own unofficial efforts in the build-up to the tournament.
But while Dizzee Rascal and James Corden's 'Shout' might be the most popular among the younger generation, ex-England manager Terry Venables' 'If I Can Dream' has shot up to No 26 in the iTunes download chart.
Hopefully Tel can go one better than Euro 96 and make it all the way to number one.
- Click here to get behind England at the World Cup with Mars
Source: DSG
