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Come on England!
A new study of the strength of interest in international football across China by Warwick Business School shows that not only is the England team shirt the most popular football shirt across China, England is also by far Chinese football fan's most favoured international team beating Brazil,Argentina and Germany.
The research found that the most commonly seen international football shirt in China was the England national shirt (40.56% of respondents report seeing it 'very often'). 30.42% of respondents report seeing Manchester United shirts 'very often' and 29.72% Italy shirts. A number of shirts were reported as seen 'often' (Italy 36.04%,Argentina 35.66% of respondents, Real Madrid 29.22% and AC Milan (29.72%). Those recorded, as being seen 'not often' included Spain, Chelsea, Germany, France and Inter Milan.
Dr Sue Bridgewater, a researcher in the University ofWarwick's Business School carried out research among football fans in China for the English football Association during the World Cup 2006.Her study, presented to the FA this month, shows much more interest among Chinese fans in international football (78.01%) than Chinese local football (31.24%). English football fared best of all among such supporters.
