THE cross of St George is adorning the roofs of cars throughout the two counties.

But it's less to do with patriotism, more to do with David Beckham, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard as the nation prepares for the start of the Euro 2004 football tournament in Portugal.

And it is not just the stereotypical young male football fans proudly flying the flag either.

Men and women of all ages have been spotted driving around with the flag fluttering in the wind.

"It's all about football," said Mark Kavanagh, manager of Knowles Sports in Worcester. "We've started to sell quite a few now. Sales have really started to pick up this week."

Lindsay Hall, assistant manager of Hargreaves Sports Ltd, in Broad Street, said it had also seen a huge uptake of the flags.

"We first had them in last week and they sold out by the weekend," she said.

"They're really popular. We had another batch in on Tuesday and they have almost sold out. We took another yesterday."

In the past, the St George's Cross - as well as the Union flag - have been more associated with Far Right groups. But, recently, ordinary citizens have claimed them back.

Motorist Chris Vaughan, of Rednal, Birmingham, attached the flag to his Ford Fiesta two weeks ago.

"For some people, it could be a sign of patriotism but, for me, it's purely about the football," he said.

"It'll be interesting to see how many people keep their flags up after the tournament. I'll be taking mine down."

However, retired engineer Dennis James believes people will leave them on their cars.

"It's good to see," said the 65-year-old, who was visiting Worcester from Hagley, near Stourbridge.

"I think football initiated it but it is patriotism."

Lisa Allen, of Henwick Road, St John's, Worcester, said the flags brightened up the city's roads.

"It makes the place look more colourful."

But the final word goes to the Welsh, who know a lot about wearing their patriotic hearts on their sleeves.

Gaynor Gibson, on holiday in Worcester from South Wales, said people were just proud to be English.

"I'm a rugby fanatic but, if Wales had qualified for the tournament, I'd have become a football fanatic and displayed the Welsh flag," said the 56-year-old.

'It feels like playing in a club side'

DAVID Beckham believes the close bond between the England players can help them triumph in Euro 2004 and admitted: "It feels like being in a club side."

The days of cliques in the England camp - with Manchester United and Liverpool players dining at separate tables - are now a distant memory judging by Beckham's assessment of team spirit and morale.

And he is confident the all-for-one, one-for-all approach harnessed to a fully-fit squad approaching its peak can ensure Sven-Goran Eriksson's side live up to their own expectations and those of the nation in Portugal.

The England skipper said: "We had a get-together on Wednesday, just the players, and it felt like being in a club side.

"By that I mean with the way the players are with each other. Everyone gets on. There are no problems at all.

"I have been playing for my country for several years and the atmosphere in the current England camp is, for me, the best we have ever had.

"I believe the atmosphere we have will help us a lot this summer and, with the players we have, the belief is very high because the expectation within the team is very high.

"We have to believe in our own abilities and the confidence is there."

Beckham feels the time may be right for England to deliver the success fans have been craving since those golden days of the 1966 World Cup triumph and the semi-finals of Italia '90 and Euro '96.

And the Real Madrid star is optimistic a fully-fit and injury-free Steven Gerrard, who was forced to miss the 2002 World Cup in Japan, will make a massive difference to England's chances.

Beckham said: "When we go into a competition like this, everyone expects us to win and rightly so because we have got a very talented team.

"On paper we should go out there and win things. That has not happened yet but everyone has got their expectations and the players have got very high ones.

"We should be going into the competition believing we can win it - and I believe that we can.

"We definitely have got more experience going into this tournament.

"The young players of a few years back have got a lot more of that now.

"We also went to Japan two years ago without Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville and they are two players that will definitely strengthen the team.

"Having players like Steven come in makes you a much better team.

"We did miss him in 2002. You saw against Japan, especially in the first half, his strength and power when he's running at players. He is one of the best around."

Beckham's foot injury dominated the build-up to Japan where he was barely half-fit but he insisted concerns over his current slight ankle problem are unfounded.

He said: "It is just a niggle that I have had for a few weeks.

"But in the last couple of days I have felt a lot better. It won't be a problem."