Dear Father Christmas – keep your presents, English kids want the World Cup

Waking up on Christmas Day to a sack full of presents is one of the most exciting things a child can experience, but a third of kids in England would happily go without – on one condition.

The caveat for enduring the festive season without any gifts to unwrap is that England win the World Cup in 2018, with 32 per cent of children in the country preferring that to a delivery from Father Christmas.

The findings come from a survey commissioned by Lidl, the England team’s official supermarket, which saw 1002 girls and boys aged between five and 12 questioned.

Remarkably, in London the results were even more heavily in favour of success in Russia next year over a traditional haul of yuletide treats.

Almost half of kids in the capital would rather see Gareth Southgate’s side crowned world champions than get a visit from Santa.

Given England’s history in the tournament – they have not won it since 1966 – those kids would be advised to submit their gift wish lists anyway…