IT WAS 'Herr' we go for German exiles in East Lancashire today as they got ready to roar their team on to World Cup glory.

But scores of England fans heading down to their local at 12.30pm tomorrow will be cheering on Brazil to prevent further World Cup pain.

England's famous 5-1 humiliation of Germany on September 1 last year is becoming a distant memory after Beckham's boys crashed out of the tournament in Japan and South Korea.

And for many, it would be too much to bear if their old rivals maintained their form to lift the trophy.

Five German students have watched their team's progress from East Lancashire while on an exchange visit. The group are studying business administration at Blackburn College on a three-week stay. They go home on Sunday and are going to watch the match at Manchester Airport before boarding their flight.

Philip Andrae, 20, from Berlin, has been helping out at the Blackburn Chamber of Commerce in Richmond Terrace and at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

He said he had been on the receiving end of a lot of good natured abuse. "Everyone I talk to reminds me of the 5-1 defeat last year," he said. "They will never forget it. Michael Ballack is my favourite player and he will miss the game, but it shouldn't stop us."

"A lot of people have the money on Brazil to win the World Cup, but Germany are going to lift the cup!."

Sven Krebs, 24, from Brandenburg, said: "The English people are jealous. I have bought lots of different English newspapers, but they all dwell on the 5-1 defeat and don't have a balanced opinion. The difference between Germany and Brazil is that we have Oliver Kahn, our goalkeeper. We deserve to win the cup we are a good team."