News Sports Soccer FIFA World Cup: Five memorable World Cup chants

FIFA World Cup: Five memorable World Cup chants

SAO PAULO: With "I believe that we will win!" American soccer fans finally have a World Cup chant that doesn't just involve shouting their country's name.   In terms of creativity, though, it's a notch below


TWO WORLD WARS AND ONE WORLD CUP


   
Sung to the tune of "Camptown Races," this English chant references England's 20th century victories over Germany, and epitomizes the lager-lout chauvinism and cheeky sense of humor that are hallmarks of the country's chants. It ignores the contributions of England's allies in both world wars and the fact that England hasn't won any major title since the 1966 World Cup, but English fans don't care. Beer cup in hand, they belt out "Two world wars and one World Cup" as if Britannia still ruled the waves, the skies and everything in between. The irony of the song is that chief reason Germany cannot avenge its defeat in 1966 is that England keeps getting knocked out of World Cups early.

   
I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!


   
Shouted by fans in various sports in the U.S., this straightforward chant has become the anthem of Americans supporting the U.S. team in Brazil. It's been promoted by ESPN and the American Outlaws supporters group and has been very loud at the World Cup grounds when the U.S. is playing. The message may be a bit plain, but repeated over and over with a steady rhythm, the chant becomes infectious, particularly when accompanied by samba drums. And it's given U.S. fans an alternative to the basic "U-S-A, U-S-A" chant.