CHILE GOES WILD IN CRETE

With the World Cup a matter of hours away – and players, staff and fans alike starting to descend on Crete already – we are delighted to reveal an extra surprise for the watching world.

In a socca first, we welcome Chile as our Wild Card Entrants!

The South American nation will be arriving in Rethymno to take part and we are delighted to welcome them to bolster the contingent from the continent.

A spokesman said: “Having a wild card entrant just shows the appetite for socca around the world. We have been over-subscribed, with teams desperately clamouring for the chance to join the tournament. Adding Chile gives everyone around the world hope that they could be playing too, and joining the greatest spectacle in the world of 6 a side.”

The Chile players have been secretly undergoing their selection process away from the glare of the world, but their cameras captured it all.

A country with a proud football history, boasting world stars like Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal and former Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo, the Chilean players were in top spirits as they left for Europe this morning.

Find out all the latest on the World Cup right here, with the first game kicking off this Saturday at 12pm Greek Time, as Latvia take on Egypt.