Top 11 England World Cup songs and chants - Best tunes ranked
World in Motion? Three Lions? The Ant and Dec classic We're on the ball? As the World Cup 2018 in Russia continues, and England get even closer to the final, which great and not-so-great tracks make up the top 10 official England songs?
England fans had better learn their favourite lyrics for England vs Croatia semi-finals match on Wednesday.
1. 'Three Lions 98' - Baddiel and Skinner/The Lightning Seeds (1998)
Originally written for the European championships in 1996, this matey Britpop chant was rolled out again for the '98 World Cup campaign. Awash with shameless nostalgia, it has an unnerving ability to make one come over all misty-eyed. Perhaps it was so popular on the terraces because it was the first football song to describe the joy and pain of being a fan and the agony and ecstasy of following an England team that usually disappoints.
2. 'World in Motion'- England and New Order (1990)
Featuring John Barnes rapping, and the rest of the England squad, New Order created a stone-cold electronic-pop classic, (co-written by Keith Allen) which rode the crest of the rave wave and became the theme tune for Italia 90. (Nessun Dorma notwithsatanding of course). 'No Alla Violenza' was the mantra as loved-up England fans ditched the hooliganism and England reached the semi-finals.
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3. - 'Back Home' - (England World Cup Squad (1970)
This was the track that set the trend for players swapping the pitch for the recording studio. The boys enlisted the assistance of a marching band for this rousing tune that stayed at the top of the charts for three weeks.
4. 'This time (We’ll get it right)' - England World Cup Squad (1982)
Or not. An ambitious England squad promised much but failed to deliver in Spain, returning home after a disappointing 0-0 draw in the second round. Maybe this time, they really will get it right. Or not.
5. 'Vindaloo' - Fat Les (1998)
An inspired, subversive parody of the football chant genre. Or a hooligan's anthem? Opinion is divided over the track penned by Keith Allen (him again) which became the unofficial song of the 1998 tournament in France.
6. '(How does it feel to be) On top of the world' - England United (1998)
Sung by the future Mrs Beckham, along with Spice Girl bandmates, Echo and the Bunnymen and the Lightning Seeds, this chirpy poppy number was somewhat eclipsed by the Fat Les effort.
7. 'England Crazy' - Rider feat. Terry Venables (2002)
El Tel recorded a double A-side with little-known indie band, Rider, with one terrace-friendly chant version and another Frank Sinatra-style swing version. The video for the latter shows a rather chuffed-looking Venables surrounded by scantily-clad showgirls.
8. 'We’re on the Ball' - Ant and Dec (2002)
The perky Geordie duo re-worked the old Arsenal anthem to sing the team on their way to Japan and Korea. Other tunes of the summer included Martin Bell and Jonathan Spurling's 'Sven, Sven, Sven'.
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9. 'World at your Feet' - Embrace (2006)
This rather clean-cut, Coldplay-esque number from Yorkshire rock band, Embrace, faced stiff competition from the likes of Ricky ('Come on England') and Crazy Frog to become the 2006 team's official anthem.
10. 'We've Got the Whole World at Our Feet' England Squad - (1986)
By the time Mexico '86 rolled around, the ‘off-key lads-around-a-mike sing-song’ was going out of fashion.Thank heavens New Order rewrote the songbook.
11. 'Diamond Lights' - Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle - (1987)
OK, so this is not a World Cup song and probably unworthy of a place in this run-down, but who can resist mentioning this synth-pop opus, courtesy of Spurs team-mates Hoddla and Waddla. Worth watching for the Miami Vice jackets and the mullets.
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