White Wheels Rolling To Portugal

If you are travelling to Portugal next week to follow England's Euro 2004™ campaign, expect to see a convoy of white cars on the roads through Europe.

According to a poll of over 10,000 football fans commissioned by Hyundai, official partner of UEFA Euro 2004™, over 33 per cent of fans choose the colour of their car to match their team's colours.

Across the country football fans also proved just how passionate they are for their clubs, none more so than Birmingham City fans. According to Hyundai's survey, Birmingham is awash with blue cars, with 59 per cent of Birmingham fans buying cars to match the club's blue shirt. Across the city it is a different story with just 26 per cent of Aston Villa fans opting for cars in claret or blue!

The fans' rivalry is intense in Britain's second city, with over 70 per cent of both Aston Villa and Birmingham City fans refusing to buy a car in their rival's colours.

Hyundai's research also suggests red cars out number blue ones in Sheffield. 43 per cent of Sheffield United fans, whose team play in red and white, said that they choose the colour of their car to show their support of their team with only 34 per cent of Wednesday's fans' 'wheels' matching their blue and white kit.

Hyundai spokesman, Rodney Kumar, said: "These findings prove just how passionate football fans really are. Having a car that matches your team's kits is the ultimate way to show just who you support and how loyal you are."

He added: "We've passed the findings to Hyundai's paint shop in Korea so that they can match the colours with the teams, although I'm not sure we'll be producing any striped cars to match clubs' kits!"

more...

White wheels rolling to Portugal...2

The Hyundai poll also revealed:

Swe-gone

65% of football fans believe that Sven-Goran Eriksson will quit as England manager after Euro 2004™, irrespective of whether England come home with the cup.

Goal-den Boot

The majority of fans (59%) think Thierry Henry will be the top scorer at Euro 2004™, with 11% backing Michael Owen. 45% of fans think Owen will be England's top striker, with 12% backing Paul Scholes, who hasn't netted for England for over two years.

Beckham's Cross

48% of fans want David Beckham to show his patriotism by dying a St George's cross into his newly cropped hair.

England's Trophy

Fans believe that England have a greater chance of winning Euro 2004™ (33%) than reigning champions France (27%). Only 5% of those questioned think Germany will win.

Love for the Pub

Less than 10% of fans will be watching England's matches with their partner, with 67% preferring to cheer on the boys with mates.

On the box

It's first blood to the BBC in the Euro 2004™ TV stakes, with Gary Lineker voted as their favourite TV presenter. Lineker (49% of votes) scored three times more votes than ITV's Des Lynam (15%), with Ally McCoist coming third with 13%.