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Simon Duke

England's best football anthems from Three Lions to World in Motion

It's been three years since many of us last belted them out but England's football songs will soon be getting an airing again as Gareth Southgate's man kick off their Euro 2020 matches.

The summer of 2018 is one that many Brits still hold dear with long days of sunshine, Love Island on the telly and England making it all the way to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

There was a party atmosphere in Newcastle and across the country as Harry Kane and co beat the likes of Sweden and Colombia to make the final 4.

And of course, you can't go and watch England play without getting in on the chanting, despite the fact that a TV doctor has told fans not to sing in pubs during Euro 2020, as it's still illegal.

As England get set to take on Croatia in their opener and a new version of Vindaloo is released, we look at some of the best England footy anthems.

Three Lions

We'll start with the obvious one and the song many reckon to be the all time best.

First released by Baddiel, Skinner and The Lightning Seeds for Euro 96, the song became an instant hit in the charts and on the terraces.

A re-worked version for the World Cup in 1998 opening with "we still believe" instead of "it's coming home," also proved a hit, even though England's tournament ended in tears then with David Beckham's infamous kick at an opponent and more penalty misery.

The song always charts when there's a tournament on and, after another classically inspired version was launched in 2010, it entered the charts again in 2018 as people dared to dream that it really was coming home.

World in Motion

England World Cup Squad in the recording studio after joining music group New Order to record a World Cup Song ahead of the finals in Italy later this year, pictured 25th March 1990. (MIRRORPIX)

It was way back in 1990 that John Barnes' now legendary rap was heard for the first time.

The collaboration between New Order and the England football team is definitely the most critically acclaimed football songs ever and still sounds as great as it did today as it did 31 years ago.

Vindaloo

The song that has just spawned a new version in time for Euro 2020, the song saw a return to the England football song fold for comedian Keith Allen, who appeared in the World in Motion video.

Released for World Cup 98, the song features the famous line "we're gonna score one more than you....ENGLAND!" and peaked at number 2 in the charts.

Like Three Lions, it's had lasting appeal with football fans and on Friday, Vindaloo Two, a new version featuring the likes of Will Mellor, Keith Lemon and Danny Dyer was released in aid of the NHS.

Whole Again

While never ever regarded as football song prior to the World Cup in 2018, the 2001 number 1 hit for Atomic Kitten was reworked in honour of heroic England manager Southgate.

Instead of "you can make me whole again" the new version's chorus ended with "football's coming home again."

Atomic Kitten themselves were quite happy to get in on the act too and recorded a Southgate inspired version, much to the delight of fans.

We're On The Ball

Ant and Dec were given the honour of recording the official England song for the World Cup in 2002.

As England crashed out to Brazil, the Geordie duo made the top 5 with We're On The Ball.

Altogether now..."it's Neville to Campbell, Campbell to Rio, Rio to Scholesy, Scholesy Gerrard!"

Altogether Now

Another chart hit that was taken on as a football anthem, The Farm hit is another one that is still sung today.

The original chorus features the line in "no man's land," but for many occasions in the World and Euros that was changed to "for Eng-er-land"

Jerusalem

While much more famous as an anthem among cricket fans, sang with gusto plenty of times during the Ashes, there is no doubt that Jerusalem is a rousing anthem fit for any occasion.

And in 2000, two years after Vindaloo, Fat Les recorded a version for England for Euro 2000 which, if you remember, didn't go too well!

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