'ENGLAND beat the Germans' is the headline everyone wants to read on Monday – and these Gloucester IT workers know it all too well.

Staff from Fasthosts Internet Ltd, based in Southgate Street, have travelled to Germany for an inter-office competition.

The event is always taken seriously, but took on significance this year when England were drawn against Germany in the second round of the World Cup.

So as the county prepares itself for tomorrow's clash, the workers have shown the professionals how it is done.

Although the B team were knocked out of the competition early, the A team sailed through to the semi-finals, and were looking to hopefully bringing home the trophy at the time of going to press.

Team captain Simon Yeoman, customer services director for the company, said: "Taking our lead from the real England squad, we are focussed, we've left the WAGs behind, and our desire to beat Germany has never been stronger."

He added: "Last year Fasthosts came third out of twenty six teams, and this year we feel we can bring the cup back.

"While the competition is always in good spirits, for some reason the England vs Germany matches are always the best – both teams just love to play each other."

Fasthosts sent two ten-man football teams and one six-strong volleyball team, of four women and two men, to the tournament in Karlsruhe, Germany, which will host twenty six teams .

The teams are hoping to return to Gloucester today, in time to enjoy the match.

Pubs are dusting off their big screens, while the Guildhall, on Eastgate Street, will be showing the game on the largest screen in the county.

■ England v Germany kicks off at 3pm tomorrow, and will be shown on BBC1 and BBC HD.