[Nicky.]

SIMON COWELL has been asked to inject the X Factor into England's official World Cup 2010 anthem, the News of the World can reveal.

A Football Association source told us: "There's great optimism for the England team after the stunning way in which they qualified for the World Cup. The plan is for the official song to be an absolute show-stopper that will help carry the boys all the way to the final.

"Clearly, Simon Cowell's involvement would pretty much guarantee chart success. He's expressed a real interest in getting one of his biggest acts on board and it is being considered very seriously."

Until now, comedian Peter Kay was the bookies' favourite to record the official song, with James Corden, Kasabian, Robbie Williams, Kaiser Chiefs and McFly also in the frame.

The FA source added: "Leona Lewis and JLS are front-runners and Susan Boyle's a possibility even though she is Scottish.

"The FA wants the soundtrack to South Africa 2010 to get the whole country singing. They're planning for success in the charts AND the tournament."

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news...on-Cowell.html

I'm not usually a sporty news person... but you can guess after reading why I spotted it xD