THE flags have been hung, the fridge is full of your favourite food and drink, and the wall chart is in place.

At last, after weeks of endless debate about Rooney's metatarsal, whether picking former Saint Theo Walcott is a gamble too far for Sven and how to get the best out of Lampard and Gerrard in the same midfield, the waiting is over.

Today sees the start of World Cup 2006 in Germany, with the hosts due to take on Costa Rica this afternoon.

For most supporters across Hampshire, the date June 10 when England play their opening game has been inked in their diaries for months.

Almost everywhere you look people have been getting into the spirit of things.

Tens of thousands of St George's crosses are on display in homes, offices, cars, shops and pubs.

Meanwhile supermarkets such as Tesco have reported a huge boost in sales for barbecue food, beer and wine as people get ready to party.

Schoolchildren have also taken part in dozens of events with a World Cup theme.

Youngsters at Netley Abbey Junior School staged their own mini-tournament with Mexico, France, Trinidad and Tobago, and Switzerland coming out as winners in different year groups.

The whole school took part in the event, whether it was playing in the teams or cheering them on from the sidelines, raising more than £1,000 for the Clic Sargent Cancer Fund.

The usual rivalry between England and Germany was put to one side when two young German fans visited a Hampshire school.

Gena Dassendorf and Daria Schmidt, both nine, were special guests at Fryern Junior School in Chandler's Ford thanks to an invitation from Louisa Murray, 11, whose dad Tim is a member of South Coast England Fans.

The two girls were given a taste of English school life and exchanged team flags with the school to take back to Germany with them.

Although most Hampshire football fans cannot wait for England's first game on Saturday, Southampton's substantial Polish community will see their country in action tonight.

Thousands of people across the city will be glued to their television screens when Poland play Ecuador on the opening night of the tournament.

Excited pupils at Springhill RC Primary School are hoping their football heroes will do so well that they will be the talk of the playground by Monday. The school in Milton Road has 28 Polish pupils.

Teacher Irena Sachrajda, who is Polish, said: "I am sure all the children will be supporting Poland today.

"I hope they will win and make it through to the next round."