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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Daniel Bird

Three Lions' Baddiel and Skinner give Christmas revamp to iconic song ahead of World Cup

David Baddiel and Frank Skinner have remastered their smash hit 1996 Euros anthem ahead of the World Cup games which kick off on Sunday.

The comedy duo have also reworked the track with new lyrics, as well as a new video featuring Lionesses Beth England and Jess Carter, alongside Sir Geoff Hurst.

Three Lions was originally released by Frank, David and Ian Broudie of Lightning Seeds as England battled in the Euros in a bid to boost the lad's morale.

But while the team, currently captained by Harry Kane are due to play their first match of the Qatar 2022 World Cup on Monday, the pair are capitalising on the games being so close to Christmas.

During an appearance on The One Show, Frank said: "We couldn't resist the fact the World Cup was at Christmas.

"People said in the past that football songs are a little bit tacky, and of course, Christmas songs are a little bit tacky.

"And two negatives make a positive! So we put so much tacky in it, it's going to be a classic."

But while the Lionesses won the Women's Euros 2022, David said that they wanted to give the men's team one last shot.

"We decided to give it one more go on the basis the blokes have not brought it home," he said.

David went on to say it was "nostalgic" to remake the track which had previously referred to "30 years of hurt" for the squad, which they've now upped to "56 years".

New lyrics include: "The blokes seem cursed whatever they try and I think I know why, they just jinxed in July.

"But it's December, Three Lions on a sleigh, with She-Lions inspiration, Santa says let's play, a Christmas tree formation."

David goes on to sing: "When they decided on Qatar, should have checked VAR.

"It's too hot, and too far, so we'll be snowflakes watching it here, this is our time of year, we'll be having a beer," before Skinner says: "Actually, I won't because I've got alcohol issues."

During the remake of the video, the duo sit opposite themselves before they decorate a Christmas tree with the Jules Rimet Trophy from the 1966, all while embracing Christmas by wearing classic festive jumpers.

Released just eight days before the Official Charts lock for the following week, the pair hope the single can go straight in at the top again.

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