FOUR football-mad Bolton youngsters are hoping to win the chance to play for England in front of 30,000 spectators.

Sam Hulme, aged 12, Danny Leaver, aged 11, and Samuel Wiseman, aged 12, all pupils at Canon Slade School, Bradshaw, are through to the final round of trials to represent their country in the International Danone Nations Cup in France.

They will be joined by 11-year-old Joe Howard, of St Brendan's RC Primary School, Harwood.

The boys were chosen alongside seven others from 250 youngsters from the region at trials in Manchester in May.

They will now compete against 84 of the country's best young players in the UK final at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London this weekend in a bid to make the final squad of 14 for the tournament.

Sam is overwhelmed to be in with a chance of playing for his country and meeting the Nations Cup Ambassador and Real Madrid star, Zinedine Zidane. "I've loved football since I was about three," he said.

Danny has been a Wanderers Academy goalkeeper for four years. "I want to ask Zidane how he got to be so good at football," he said.

Samuel hopes to get to France and meet players from the Cup's 32 competing countries.

"It'd be great to be a footballer but it'd also be good to meet some pen pals," he said.

Craig Robinson, sports teacher and coach of Canon Slade's Under 12s team, nominated the boys to attend the Manchester trials.

"They're three of the best players on the team," said Mr Robinson. "They've got enthusiasm, sportsmanship and they give 110 per cent."

Joe, who has played in goal for Brandlesholme Warriors in Bury for four years, says he will try out England striker Peter Crouch's famous robot dance if he makes a save in London.

The boys will travel to London with their families tomorrow for a two-day training camp where professional coaches will help decide on a team to represent England in the contest in Lyon in September.