Friendship and passion in Paris

The road to Paris was paved in red and white today as rugby fans from Shropshire joined an army of supporters all with a single mission - to cheer England to victory.

Fans were making the the 300-mile trip by road, air and, despite yesterday's strike, by rail to attend the party.

Cars making their way into the city were festooned with flags and Charles de Gaulle airport hosted a sea of England jerseys.

Colin Gittus, from The Rock in Telford, summed up the spirit, saying: "The last one out of England, turn out the lights."

Despite not having a ticket for the final, Colin is convinced the overwhelming show of support from the estimated 40,000 fans expected in Paris will inspire the boys to glory.

"If willpower and shouting can make it happen then it is worth it," he said.

"I've been looking forward to this for four years and I've been planning the trip for the last year - not knowing who was going to be in the final of course.

"I did not even try to get a ticket, the prices are beyond mere mortals."

Colin, 40, travelled with his wife Ginette and pal Jim Withington, also from Telford.

They made their way over by ferry and are "slumming it" by pitching up on a campsite in the Bois de Bolougne - the same place they stayed a couple of weeks ago to watch a less impressive England in the group stage.

He added: "We are aiming to find a big screen on Saturday and just take in the atmosphere. We came here a month ago and that was brilliant but this is going to be even better."

Having or not having tickets is barely an issue with county fans.

Most say they just want to be here in the hope that they can help make history - the Rugby World Cup has never been won twice in a row, and fans want to see their rose-breasted heroes reach the record books.

In an Irish bar near the Moulin Rouge, ticketless Stuart Philp, 30, from Tenbury Wells, said the hairs on the back of his neck were standing up just thinking of tomorrow's game.

"We decided to come to Paris for the final four months ago, regardless of who was in it, we just wanted to be here - we had no expectations of England being here," he said.

"My mission was just to come to a World Cup final. I've saved £25 a week for the last four months to get here and England being in the final is just a bonus. But we could become the first team ever to retain the World Cup - how great would that be?"

Stuart drove down with friends yesterday.

"We left at 6.15 in the morning and got here about ten hours later. We're all tired but that doesn't matter now - we are here," he said, adding that opposing rugby fans were getting along like a house on fire.

In bars around the French capital South African fans could be seen having a beer with their England counterparts before what is expected to be a titanic clash of wills as well as skills.

Stuart said: "I've been drinking with South Africans and there's great banter there, no animosity at all - although I did ask one to kiss the rose and he refused!"

Paul Laughlin, from near Llangollen, is lucky enough to have tickets for the final but as a Wales fan declared he had no allegiances with the England side.

Paul said he was there to enjoy the spirit of the occasion. Last night he was seen offering friendly commiserations to heartbroken Kiwi Jim Anderson.

He said: "This is what rugby is about - friendship."

By Ben Bentley in Paris