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As soon as the World Cup kicks off, the pubs and bars of London will be bustling with fans eager to see their team do well. London is home to people from every country in the world, which means that regardless of who's playing you'll be able to find some ardent supporters packing out a favoured local hostelry, willing their team onto victory.
 Our nation by nation guide shows you where to head if you want to support your team in the company of like-minded fans or simply just join the ex-pats in supporting their individual nations. It goes without saying that at every turn you'll come across swarms of red and white striped England fans. You will be able to walk into almost any pub in the city and find supporters during England games. Nevertheless, we've picked out a few interesting options...  En-Ger-LandSince Sven's departure was announced, the erstwhile cautious Scandanavian has been acting quite out of character, first naming Premiership virgin Theo Walcott in his squad, and then claiming categorically that England will win the World Cup. He's becoming more English everyday! He's not totally off his rocker though, England have got one of their best, most experienced squads for decades built on a solid defence and a midfield quartet to die for. All things considered though, when you compare an attack comprised of Peter Crouch and an unpracticed Michael Owen, with Brazil's two Ronnies or the French pairing of Trezeguet and Henry, confidence does start to ebb. But if Steven Gerrard can finally turn on the style in an England jersey, they should certainly reach the quarter finals, and then who knows... England's group games are: 10th June 2006 at 14:00 England vs Paraguay 15th June 2006 at 17:00 England vs Trinidad and Tobago 20th June 2006 at 20:00 Sweden vs England Watch the matches surrounded by hundreds of eager fans in one of London's most patriotic pubs. Here are a few venues that are bound to be bursting with World Cup fever and with English fans... Islington Academy For each of England's group games the Islington Academy will be throwing open its doors to 800 lucky competiton winners. This resonant music hall is set to echo with the sounds of excited commentary, anxious expectation and - fingers crossed - wild celebration. Tribute bands, DJs and flowing pints of beer will warm up the crowds for the main event. They will, no doubt, also be airing some classic sing-a-long England themes like 'World in Motion' and 'Three Lions'. Apply for tickets on the Carling website. Address: The Shopping Centre 21, Parkfield Street, N1 Phone: 020 7288 4400 Price: Free to competition winners Nearest Station: Angel Tube Click Here for Local Travel and Hotel Information Egg The World Cup finals will mean a month of early rises for the staff at Egg, as the club is thrown over to an all-singing all-dancing football jamboree. They're showing all the games on enormous 13 x 10 foot screens so you won't miss a kick of the action. A trip to Egg looks likely to be the complete package with entertainment, music, food and drink, not to mention the big game. A steel band accompanied by trumpeteers and a squad of soccerettes will be stoking the atmosphere before kick off. Chow down on a tasty snag at half time as the barbeque gets cooking. Then after the final whistle you can relieve the urge to impersonate Becks, Roon and the boys by strutting your stuff on the dance floor. You never want to go leave! Address: 5 - 13 Vale Royal, King's Cross, N7 Phone: 020 7609 8364 Price: £25 - £75 Nearest Station: King's Cross Tube / Rail Click Here for Local Travel and Hotel Information   Bar ItaliaItaly A Soho institution for more than 50 years, Bar Italia is THE place in the capital to catch the Azzurri in action this summer. A huge screen on the back wall and other little ones dotted around will see this diminutive cafe packed tighter than a sardine tin during the World Cup. The interior of this bar could have been shipped lock, stock and barrel from any town in Italy with its polished, stainless steel counter, hams, salamis and strip lighting. A football match helps us see the great difference between the Italians and the British - the patrons here are more likely to celebrate with their 10th espresso, than their 10th pint. The place will be buzzing. In true continental style Bar Italia stays open literally 24 hours, so if the Italian team can score a victory, celebrations will continue long into the night. Italy have got fine World Cup pedigree and boast a wealth of latent talent most teams dream about, but lacklustre, and frankly dull displays in the last World Cup and Euro 2004 mean that they have it all to prove. Their only weakness is a slightly aged defence, who make up for it admirably with sacks of experience. They have a great chance of reaching the final. The man to watch is this year's Serie A Capocannonieri (top scorer to you and me), Luca Toni - the Fiorentina striker bagged 31 goals this season taking his team to fourth place in a highly competitive league. Address: 22 Frith Street, W1D Phone: 020 7437 4520 Country Games: 12th June 2006 at 20:00 Italy vs Ghana | 17th June 2006 at 20:00 Italy vs USA | 22nd June 2006 at 15:00 Czech Republic vs Italy Nearest Station: Leicester Square Tube Click Here for Local Travel and Hotel Information  The Harcourt ArmsSweden Discreetly positioned on a sleepy street in Marylebone, this friendly Victorian pub has forged strong links with the surrounding Swedish ex-pat community. A smattering of screens indoors and a charming beer garden make The Harcourt a great choice for an afternoon of summer sport. The Swedish connection goes a bit further than the clientele too - you can get a decent dish of meatballs and even some delectable Kopparberg cider (a thirst quenching sweet brew). The Swedes are far too friendly to cause an upset you might think, but teams should take care in front of the combined attacking talents of Ibrahimovich, Larsson and Ljunberg. After two successful seasons at the top level with Italian champions Juventus, Ibrahimovich will be looking to make a mark at the World Cup. Nevertheless, with Aston Villa player, Olaf Melberg, as their defensive 'rock' you can't help but see them shipping a few soft goals. A place in the quarter finals is probably the best they can hope for. Address: 32 Harcourt Street, Marylebone, W1H Phone: 020 7723 6634 Country Games: 10th June 2006 at 17:00 Trinidad and Tobago vs Sweden | 16th June 2006 at 20:00 Sweden vs Paraguay | 20th June 2006 at 20:00 Sweden vs England Nearest Station: Edgware Road Tube Click Here for Local Travel and Hotel Information  The RedbackAustralia For the duration of the World Cup, to celebrate Australia's first appearance in the finals for over 30 years, the Redback is cordoning off half the pub to mount an exhibition of early Aborigine cave art and contemporary bush collage. All proceeds are going to the Australian Fund for Koala Bears. Yeah right! I don't think so. This is an unadulterated, bawdy, brash Aussie fest of beer-swilling, shouting and raucous celebration. Some will love it to pieces; others will loathe it to the core. The backpacking hordes love their sport, but haven't quite embraced the beautiful game yet - this is their chance. Whinging Poms beware. Under the tutelage of Gus Hiddink the Socceroos swept aside the form book in their push for the finals. After an arduous qualifying campaign they eventually beat Uruguay (the team that denied them last time) in a penalty shoot-out. Hopes have been rising for the last few years though, with a victory against England in 2003 a high point. This is only the second time Australia has qualified, and they'd rather forget the 1974 tournament which they exited without scoring a single goal. The weight of expectation is not on their shoulders, so expect the focus to fall on fluid, attacking football. This is also due to a lethargic and fairly limited selection of defenders. If Everton's Tim Cahill can shake off a knee ligament injury, he could prove a decisive inclusion for the Roos. In the same group as Brazil, they must concentrate on clinching second place. Address: 264 High Street, Acton, W3 Phone: 020 8896 1458 Country Games: 12th June 2006 at 14:00 Australia vs Japan | 18th June 2006 at 17:00 Brazil vs Australia | 22nd June 2006 at 20:00 Croatia vs Australia Nearest Station: Acton Town Tube Click Here for Local Travel and Hotel Information  Polish White Eagles ClubPoland This dilapidated old Victorian Hall isn't a destination bar, but it is mighty authentic. For over 30 years it’s been the epicentre of the Polish community in south London. Since the expansion of the EU there has been another significant wave of new arrivals from the East. This means there will be huge support in the capital for the Polish team. There are no plasma screens or professions of modernity here, just a single screen, but there is genuine Polish spirit and a lip-smacking selection of Slavic lagers and vodka galore. The Poles haven't tasted much success in the past 20 years of World Cups, nevertheless, many forget that they have clinched third place in two previous competitions. Coach Pawel Janas has gone for youthful exuberance over experience, ditching Liverpool misfit Jerzy Dudek, and, more inexplicably, striker Tomasz Frankowski - top scorer in qualifying. The team sheet won't ring too many bells, but the Poles are capable of scintillating attacks, compromised by a disorganised back-line. If they get past their fairly straightforward group it will be an improvement on their poor show in 2002. Address: 211 Balham High Road, SW17 Phone: 020 8672 1723 Country Games: 9th June 2006 at 20:00 Poland vs Ecuador | 14th June 2006 at 20:00 Germany vs Poland | 20th June 2006 at 15:00 Costa Rica vs Poland Nearest Station: Balham Tube Click Here for Local Travel and Hotel Information  Bavarian BeerhouseGermany While many German fans may well take advantage of London's relative proximity to the host nation by making the short trip to home Germany for matches. Even so, there will still be plenty of support for the German national team over here in London town and most of them will be hanging out at the Bavarian Beerhouse. The net result of theme bars is to re-enforce racial stereotypes, and this one's no different. Most Germans will furiously protest that they'd don't all guzzle beer in giant steins, scoffing sausages, dressed in tight leather shorts - that's only the Bavarians apparently. All the same, World Cup visitors to this welcoming inn will find it hard to resist tasty beers like Paulaner and Erdinger served by charming Aryan waitresses in traditional fitted white blouses and dresses. Three-times champions, Germany are giants of the international game with an incredible record - they have reached the final in six out of the past ten World Cups. In Japan and South Korea they even managed it with possibly the worst German team to ever set foot on a pitch. New manager Jurgen Klinsmann has set the team up like a typical former striker - attack-minded, with barely a thought dedicated to shoring up the defence (Kevin Keegan's England springs to mind). Qualifying as hosts, they haven't been tested competitively. The young squad will seek guidance from Abramovich's latest snare, inspirational captain Michael Ballack. Address: 190 City Road, EC1V Phone: 020 7608 0925 Country Games: 9th June 2006 at 17:00 Germany vs Costa Rica | 14th June 2006 at 20:00 Germany vs Poland | 20th June 2006 at 15:00 Ecuador vs Germany Nearest Station: Old Street Tube Click Here for Local Travel and Hotel Information  Vasco Da Gama PubPortugal Lambeth, and Stockwell in particular, has nearly 30,000 Portuguese ex-pat residents. To get a piece of Mediterranean atmosphere over the World Cup, without paying for a plane ticket, either pencil in a visit to one of the many bars and restaurants along the Stockwell Road, or come to this fine Portuguese pub. With some tasty bottled Iberian lagers (including the silky Super Bock), a tapas menu and some passionate Latin fans customers can pretend, for a few hours, that they’re down a backstreet in Lisbon. Loud and lively, the pub will explode in a riot of red and green with some of the capital's wildest goal celebrations. Big Phil hasn't had his feathers ruffled by the furore surrounding the England job. His squad sticks to the same players that led Portugal to a Euro 2004 final, which they still can't believe they didn't win. Sandwiched between a solid defence marshalled by Chelsea duo Carvalho and Ferreira, and attacking spearhead and all-time top scorer Pauleta, is a mouth-watering filling in the middle of the park - Boa Morte, Deco, Ronaldo, Maniche and an out-of-retirement Luis Figo make an incredible combination. With a straightforward route out of their group, the quarter finals should be within their grasp. Address: 152 Old South Lambeth Road, SW8 Phone: 020 7735 3417 Country Games: 11th June 2006 at 20:00 Angola vs Portugal | 17th June 2006 at 14:00 Portugal vs Iran | 21st June 2006 at 15:00 Portugal vs Mexico Nearest Station: Vauxhall Tube / Rail Click Here for Local Travel and Hotel Information  De HemsHolland The spiritual home of Netherlanders in London - during the World Cup De Hems will become a beacon of orange in a Soho sea of George Crosses. The dark wooden interior might not be so good for the summer months, but it works well for seeing a big screen, and drinkers can spill out on to the sunshine-dappled pavement outside after the match. The assortment of Benelux beers is fantastic with a selection of draught and bottled brews from Holland and Belgium. A pint of Orangeboom is the perfect patriotic way to toast your team to victory. Dutch manager Marco Van Basten has stuck wholeheartedly to an "out with the old, in with the new" policy. For over a decade Dutch teams have basically been a rehash of the 1995 Champions League-winning Ajax team. But this year there isn't even space for midfield double-act Davids and Seedorf. If Van Nistlerooy can shrug off his problems at Man United and Arjen Robben can stop blowing hot and cold, they have an outside chance of lifting the trophy come July 9th. A lack of experience is their major stumbling block. Victory will ensure that De Hems explodes into a bright, raucous bacchanal of rejoicing Dutchmen, no doubt speaking perfect English. Address: 11 Macclesfield Street, Soho, W1D Phone: 020 7437 2494 Country Games: 11th June 2006 at 14:00 Serbia and Montenegro vs Holland | 16th June 2006 at 17:00 Holland vs Ivory Coast | 21st June 2006 at 20:00 Holland vs Argentina Nearest Station: Leicester Square Tube Click Here for Local Travel and Hotel Information |
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