Graphic: England's road to Paris

Listen to the Kenny Rogers' original The Gambler

The soundtrack to England's remarkable re-emergence from the last-chance saloon at this World Cup is highly appropriate. The Gambler, Kenny Rogers's country anthem from 1978, is the first song on the team iPod when the players return to the changing-room after a match.

On Saturday, after their victory over Australia, Matt Stevens, the runner-up on The X-Factor: Battle of the Stars, played the guitar as the squad sang their adopted anthem on the bus on the way to their hotel.

Expert View

How Sheridan goes against France is worth the trip to Paris alone

Sir Clive Woodward

• More

• Post a comment

BACKGROUND

• Cueto ready to prove his point in Dad’s Army

• Hipkiss bid to force Ashton’s hand falls short

• Clive Woodward: Why England are my favourites

• Resurgent Gomarsall sets his sights on summit

BACKGROUND

• France exceed all expectations as hosts

• Steyn presents threat in close final

• Broccoli for breakfast is recipe for success

• The rough (sleeper’s) guide to Paris

BACKGROUND

• Man of the moment - as seen by his friends

• Historic win sealed by a drop of the hard stuff

• Rescued from defeat by grab of a bootlace

• Replacements show worth off bench

BACKGROUND

• South Africa lack usual fluency on way to final

• Brown to join fans at World Cup final

• Paris travel frenzy for World Cup final

BACKGROUND

• South Africa lack usual fluency on way to final

• Brown to join fans at World Cup final

• Paris travel frenzy for World Cup final

Multimedia

• Graphic: where the final could be won

Multimedia

• The World Cup Podcast

• Josh Lewsey's video diary

• The Rugby World Cup blog

Word has reached Rogers of his song's popularity with the squad and he is to record a video message to wish England luck in their semi-final against France tomorrow. “I don't know a whole lot about rugby, but it's a song that means a lot to me,” Rogers said. “I'm mighty proud that you guys found something in it to be your inspiration.”

In 1924, the United States gave one cap to a wing named William Rogers, but he is thought to be no relation to the singer. There are no explicit rugby references in Rogers's original lyrics, so The Times has tinkered with the words to give The Gambler a suitable theme for tomorrow's semi-final.

On a warm summer’s evenin’ on a train bound for Paris,

I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.

So we took turns a-chucklin’ out the window at the Aussies

Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, son, I’ve made a life out of beatin’ up the Aussies,

And knowin’ what their plans were by the way they held the ball.

So if you don’t mind my sayin’, I can see you’re out of drop kicks,

For a taste of your bitter, I’ll show you how they fall.

So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.

Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me about France.

And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.

Said, if you’re gonna reach the final, ya gotta learn to take your chance.

(Chorus)

You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em,

Know when to kick the ball and know when to run,

You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table,

There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the World Cup’s won.

Now ev’ry gambler knows that the secret to advancin’

Is knowing what to pass away and knowing what to kick,

Your Jonny is a brave man and Chabal is just a caveman,

And with luck before you know it, you will have those Frenchies licked.

And when he’d finished speaking, he turned back t’ward the window,

Thinking about Sydney when we beat them in the rain,

And somewhere in the Paris night, the gambler he broke even.

And then I knew that four years on, we’d beat the French again.

(Chorus)

You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em,

Know when to kick the ball and know when to run,

You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table,

There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the World Cup’s won.