IT won't only be the England players who will be living their World Cup dream when they step out against Paraguay on June 10.Little Cyrus Thorpe will be the envy of millions of youngsters across the country as he helps lead out David Beckham and his side in Frankfurt for their opening game of the tournament.

IT won't only be the England players who will be living their World Cup dream when they step out against Paraguay on June 10.

Little Cyrus Thorpe will be the envy of millions of youngsters across the country as he helps lead out David Beckham and his side in Frankfurt for their opening game of the tournament.

The Kesgrave schoolboy can hardly wait to be one of the team's nine mascots after his dad Richard won a competition in a national newspaper.

Ipswich fan Cyrus, whose favourite player is Wayne Rooney, said: “I feel happy and I'm really excited about it.”

The seven-year-old Heath Primary pupil and his dad will be travelling to Germany in the lead up to the game as guests of McDonald's who ran the competition for players' escorts.

Mr Thorpe said: “I just saw it in the paper. There were a few people who mocked me saying 'you've got no chance'. You don't expect to win those type of competitions really, but they phoned me up to say Cyrus had actually been selected.

“I felt like we had won the lottery. I was just walking around with a stupid grin on my face for the next two weeks.”

To win a spot at the World Cup Mr Thorpe and his wife Lesla had to convince the judges Cyrus merited his place.

Lesla said: “Richard had to submit a picture and say in 50 words or less why he (Cyrus) should represent England. It was along the lines that Cyrus is a mixed-race child and he represents what English football is about on and off the pitch.

“Even though I'm not into football I have told everybody I'm very, very exited about it. It's absolutely brilliant. It's the chance of a lifetime.

WEBLINK: www.fifa.com

N If you have a World Cup story telephone the Star's World Cup reporter Neil Puffett on 01473 324788.