SOUTH Cheshire's Polish community is backing England's bid for World Cup glory after seeing its own team knocked out of the tournament.

Hundreds of fans packed into the Polish Club in West Street, Crewe, to watch the Germany v Poland match on Wednesday only to have their hearts broken by a late strike from Oliver Neuville.

The 1-0 defeat left the team heading for an early exit home.

Now Polish fans eager to get revenge for their team's defeat are keen to see England go all the way to the final.

Daniel Fedorowicz, 30, watched the match with his family at his home in Samuel Street, Crewe. He said: 'I was disappointed with the way Poland went out. I also watched the England game against Trinidad and Tobago and they should have played better but at least they have got through.'

Daniel, pictured, who works at Gist, is one of 3,000 Polish people now living in Crewe and Nantwich. He moved to England in June 2004 after Poland joined the EU to find a better life for himself and his family after his wife became pregnant.

His prospects in his hometown of Olsztyn , in North-East Poland were bleak. Work was scarce, pay low and the cost of living ever increasing.

Daniel added: 'I like it here and, like most of the other Polish people living here, I would now like to see England do well in the World Cup and maybe go all the way.'