As the England football team makes their last minute preparations for the World Cup, DHL is preparing to kick off 'Operation Three Lions', a last minute delivery service for the England squad.

DHL, the official carrier to the FA, is setting up special dispatch units at the England team hotels throughout Germany during the tournament. The units will be on 24-hour stand-by in case the squad leave any important items behind – from a lucky pair of boots to an iPod that gets players psyched-up for the match - and will swing into action to express deliver them directly to the team.

Code-named ‘Operation Three Lions’, the service will also be run from FA HQ in Soho Square, London should there be any urgent shipments to Germany.

The service was set up following DHL’s experience in the last World Cup when a number of urgent items, including a new suit for Sven for the quarter final, were despatched to Japan.

Commenting on ‘Operation Three Lions’, Kamal Varma at DHL said: “Given the importance of the World Cup, the squad can’t be distracted by any forgotten items. We’ve got dedicated teams in Germany and in the UK waiting on the bench just in case anything vital is left behind. It’s an important operation but we’ve had some good training with the FA since we became official carrier in 2002 so we’re feeling fit and ready.”

An FA spokesperson said: “It’s crucial that the England team is supported by a network of reliable partners during a big tournament and DHL certainly provides us with the assurance that the team will have whatever they need, wherever there are. We’ve worked with DHL’s team now for 17 years, four of those in an official carrier capacity, so we know we can rely on them, and that they have the expertise to make it all happen.”

DHL’s World Cup campaign began two weeks ago with two lorries, carrying all the equipment the England team needs to participate travelling to Germany. From training equipment and medical supplies to the famous ‘three lions’ shirts and home comforts for the players including Jaffa Cakes and custard.

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