AS the World Cup frenzy in York reaches fever pitch, football fans young and old are eagerly awaiting England's clash with the colourful Brazilians.

Attempts to give our players an extra lift have reached new heights with a set of prayers composed by a clergyman who is set to take up a position at York Minster as Canon Precentor.

The Rev Jeremy Fletcher, who will be responsible for music at the Minster, has written prayers for tomorrow's quarter final where he urges fans to pray: "Lord, let this cup not pass from us."

The Bradford City supporter has also written a litany to be chanted in the event of a penalty shoot-out. Mr Fletcher said the prayers were light-hearted.

Staff and students at schools around the city are expected to join in the wave of patriotic support.

Teachers at Fulford Secondary School expect that many of the school's 1,200 students will be keen to see the match.

Head teacher Stephen Smith said students were being encouraged to attend with televisions and refreshments provided at locations around the school.

Joseph Rowntree Secondary School pupils have been told they can come in at 10.45am.

A spokeswoman for the Haxby Road school said the late time allowed for possible extra time and penalties. "But let's hope it doesn't come to that," she said.

Pupils at Archbishop Holgate's School, Hull Road, are set to watch the game on a big screen in the sports hall.

Meanwhile, York's own answer to the woman known as the Brazilian Bombshell, Carmen Miranda, lit up "York beach", the area of sand next to the Queen's Staith.

The singer and actress, who actually came from Portugal and was always fantastically overdressed, was brought back to life by Evening Press photographers with the help of Lesley Crampton, from the Lush shop in Coney Street, and costume hire shop Fantasy World, in Fulford Road. Meanwhile, football-mad Antonio Martines, a visitor at York Associates College, in St Saviour's Place, will be sending staff "nuts" this Friday.

The Brazilian will be shouting "pra frente Brasil" ("Come on Brazil" in Portuguese) while watching the crunch quarter-final clash.

Antonio, 51, lives near Rio de Janeiro, but is studying English for a week. He said: "I am a little bit scared about England because it has been a World Cup full of surprises."

Updated: 11:40 Thursday, June 20, 2002