STUDENT Tom Kell will be the Chronicle's eyes and ears at the World Cup in Germany.

Tom, 20, from Holmes Chapel, left home for the biggest competition in world sport yesterday along with six of his best mates, and will be reporting back on his experiences.

The politics degree student at University of Nottingham, who has ambitions of becoming a journalist, is heading by car for Frankfurt in read-iness for England's opening Group B clash with Paraguay on Saturday (2pm).

From there, he will journey to Nuremberg for the Trinidad and Tobago game on Thursday June 15 (5pm), before arriving in Cologne for England's final group game against Sweden, on Tuesday June 20 (8pm).

Like thousands of others, the Wolverhampton Wanderers fan will stay in campsites and meet other supporters to watch games at local bars and pubs.

And he will be praying that Sven's men make to the quarter-finals, as he has a ticket for the match which, if all goes to form, will see England face either Portugal, Holland or Argentina.

Tom said: 'I'm delighted to have been handed the role by the Chronicle, and will do my best to give readers across South Cheshire a flavour of what it is like to be in Germany over the next few weeks.

'We started to plan the trip around Christmas time, but getting a ticket is a complete lottery and we were all delighted to get hold of some for a quarter final.

'We have no strict schedule, we will just follow England - hopefully until the final! I think they have a good chance of going all the way, but Brazil and France have to be considered among the favourites. I am really looking forward to it.'

The World Cup gets underway with an opening ceremony on Friday, before the host nation take on Costa Rica in Munich later that day.

Millions of people from across the world will tune in to watch 32 countries battle it out for football's greatest prize. The final, in Berlin, is on Sunday July 9.

England have not won the trophy, first claimed by Uruguay in 1930, since Sir Alf Ramsey's side lifted it in 1966.

The current side have been rocked by an injury to Manchester United's 20-year-old superstar Wayne Rooney, which could force him to miss the whole competition.

But skipper David Beckham's side are one of the favourites for the coveted gong, and Tom will give a fans-eye-view every step of the way.

Are you from South Cheshire and off to the World Cup Finals? The Chronicle would welcome pictures of local supporters following England's fortunes in Germany, and publish comments as Sven's boys go for glory. e-mail them to crewe.sport@cheshirenews.co.uk.