8 of the best "football" songs of all time...

While watching a football montage video on Youtube recently (that just so happened to have an excellent soundtrack) we got to thinking about the best songs that tie in to the beautiful game. After much debate, we settled on a top 8 & here it is... 

(for the record, we're not including any songs specifically written for teams as football songs: eg New Order's World in Motion for England or Del Amitri's Don't Come Home too Soon for Scotland)

8. Curse Curse by James 

The seemingly evergreen Manchester band James have belted out some of the most memorable songs of the last 25 years, particularly where Britpop was concerned. However, it's a more recent addition to their back catalogue that sneaks into our list.

With lyrics delivered with typical promiscuity, singer Tim Booth rattles off the line "I turn up the TV, Copa Del Rey, Messi shoots & scores, a hundred thousand came." 

As far as we're aware, we can't think of another song out there that namechecks Barcelona's superstar forward, well certainly not any good ones anyway! 

7. Theme FromSparta FC - The Fall

Another entry from Manchester, Theme From Sparta FC by the Fall is a throwback to post-punk, football hooliganism & passion for your club. There are several takes on who Sparta FC might be, with some saying it's Sparta Prague, some saying it's a Luton-based club called Brache Sparta C.FC & others simply saying it's a fictional club.

One thing's for sure, it's definitely about football & the whole vibe of the song encapsulates the feeling of getting yourself pumped up for the match.

6. Mas Que Nada - Sergio Mendes

Mention it by name & you're likely to receive confused looks & exclamations or "who" or "what"? However, as soon as the opening bars to this classic from the 1960s kick in, the penny drops for everyone.

The song gained global fame just before the 1998 World Cup, when Nike & Brazil used it in their iconic "airport" advert.

There has probably never been a song that encapsulates the free-flowing & joyful nature of Brazilian football that the world fell in love with better.

5. This Is The One - The Stone Roses

Diving back into Manchester once more (that city sure knows how to produce classic songs), This Is The One by The Stone Roses is arguably one of the best indie-pop songs of all time in its own right.

However, if you're of the red persuasion, then you'll be fully aware that Manchester United blast this number out of the speakers when the home team walks out at Old Trafford.

It also helps that singer Ian Brown is a massive United fan, even once demanding a member of United's treble-winning side of 1999 turned up to give him his NME award or he wouldn't accept it. For the curious among you, Teddy Sheringham did the honours.

4. Eat My Goal - Collapsed Lung

Coca Cola ran an advert during the mid-90s promoting their association with the beautiful game (they still sponsored the League Cup at this point) & they chose this nifty hip-hop number from Essex-based rappers Collapsed Lung.

It's another tune that isn't recognisable by name, but is instantly known once the opening guitar riff kicks in. Is it the greatest song of all time? Far from it! However its football-referencing lyrics & catchy guitar make it a must-have on any soundtrack for the beautiful game.

3. Club Foot - Kasabian

Club Foot is a stomping, marauding anthem of indie-rock aggression that made it absolutely perfect for countless highlights montages on Sky Sports, BBC & ITV from over the years. It also made it into the intro of Pro Evolution Soccer 5, arguably the best football video game of all time.

The band are die-hard Leicester City fans & as a result this song was played more than a few times at the King Power Stadium as the Foxes won the Premier League during their sensational 2015/16 campaign.

The song also appeared on the laughably bad Green Street movie, involving football hooliganism & how that bloke from Lord of the Rings tried to fight Millwall fans.

2. Round Are Way - Oasis

Manchester's at it again with this absolute belter from the ever-feuding brothers Liam & Noel Gallagher. Round Are Way was a b-side to Wonderwall & is ultimately the much better song. It's a rip-roaring rock 'n' roll number backed up with a brass section & witty lyrics delivered in arrogant fashion by Liam Gallagher at his absolute peak. 

A song about the area they grew up in, the lines: "a game is kicking off in around the park, it's 25-a-side & before it's dark, there's gonna' be a loser & you know the next goal wins" perfectly sums up the shambolic nature of the kickabout games we all played as kids.

1. Carnival de Paris - Dario G 

Yes we know we said we weren't including any songs written for teams, but technically this song was written for an entire tournament. Dario G came up with this absolute masterpiece for France '98 & it tried to incorporate as many instruments from as many of the participating nations as possible (yes it even has bagpipes for Scotland). 

It's a song that captured world cup fever so well that it should arguably still be the official song for any World Cup that takes place. The Samba drums, the upbeat melody & the absolute joyful nature of this song make it a footballing classic & rightful owner of our number 1 spot.

Can you think of any songs we should have included on our list?