A FOOTBALL fan in her 70s has dealt the red card to petty thieves who stole an England flag from her front porch.

Catherine Wild, who has religiously cheered on Sven's men throughout the World Cup, was dismayed to find the huge red and white banner missing after Saturday's jubilant 3-0 win against Denmark.

And despite trawling the city's streets for a replacement on Monday, the despondent pensioner returned home empty-handed after finding local shops flag-less.

"Although we are all football-mad in my family, I'd never bought a flag before this World Cup," the 72-year-old of Kirkstone Drive, said.

"I even took my hanging baskets down to tie it up across my porch.

"It was the only one in the street flying proudly in the breeze, but when I went to fetch my paper on Sunday morning, it was gone.

"I expect youths coming out of the pub on Saturday night took it for a laugh or because they wanted one for themselves.

"Why do they have to do these things - couldn't they buy one of their own instead of stealing from an old lady?"

The widowed mother-of-five, who says she shoots into the air from her armchair when her team scores a goal, avoiding the "madness" of the pub, believes the culprits should face a penalty of their own.

"I've walked around Worcester trying to get another for Friday's match but there aren't even any little ones left," she said.

"I could throttle those responsible."

But Mrs Wild, who predicts a 1-0 win to England from Friday's showdown with hot favourite Brazil, says she isn't going to let the loss ruin her breakfast viewing.

"I think its going to be a tough one but its about time we had some luck," she said.

"As long as the boys keep fighting them off, we'll be in with a chance."