How Much Do You Really Know About the World Cup 2010 National Anthems?

A CD containing versions of national anthems from the 2010 World Cup's 32 competing nations is now available to buy. Here's the list and some opening lines which give you a flavour of what to expect:

Kassaman, “We swear by the lightning that destroys…” (The Algerians will hope the power of nature is enough to see off Group C opponents England and the USA)

March de la patria (March of the Fatherland), “Mortals! Hear the sacred cry…” (Argentina gets all melodramatic - again)

Advance Australia Fair, “Australians all, let us rejoice...” (The Socceroos' favourite mood music as the barbecue crackles in the background)

Himno Nacional do Brasil (National Anthem of Brazil), “There was heard…” (The National Anthem of Brazil, presumably)

Chant de Ralliement (Song of Reunification), “O Cameroon, thou cradle…” (Bringing people together in Cameroon)

Himno Nacional de Chile (National Anthem of Chile), “Chile, your sky…” (The weather is a popular topic of conversation in Chile)

L'Abidjanaise (The Song of Abidjan), “We salute you, O land of hope…” (The Ivory Coast will need more than hope if they are to survive the Group of Death)

Faedrelandssang (Fatherlands Song), “There is a lovely land…” (Called Denmark, apparently)

Land of Hope and Glory, “Land of Hope and Glory, mother of the free...” (England's historic anthem gets another run out. Hang on, don’t we usually hear God Save The Queen at footy matches?)

La Marseillaise (The Song of Marseille) (Can the French “marchons” at the World Cup?)

Das Lied der Deutschen (The Song of the Germans) (Funny, I thought Germany's national anthem was Deutschland Uber Alles)

Hail the Name of Ghana, “God bless our homeland Ghana…” (God makes His first appearance)

Imnos Eis Tin Eleftherian (Hymn to Freedom), “I shall always recognise you” (Who the ‘I’ is and what they are recognising isn’t clear from the opening line of Greece's anthem. Didn’t this win the Eurovision Song Contest a few years ago?)

Himno Nacional de Honduras, “Like an Indian maiden you were sleeping…” (Honduras gets the horn)

The Song of the Italians, “Italian Brother, Italy has awakened” (Written just after the war as thousands of Vespas left the factories)

Kimigayo (His Majesty's Reign), “May thy peaceful reign last long!…” (They haven’t forgotten their imperial past in Japan)

Aegoog - Ga (The Patriotic Song), “Let morning shine on the silver and gold of this land” (North Korea’s anthem inexplicably fails to mention mass starvation and plans for nuclear annihilation. How odd)

Aegoog - Ga (The Patriotic Song), “Tong - Hai Sea and Pakdoo Mountain…” (South Korea’s anthem inexplicably fails to mention its fears of nuclear annihilation. See above)

Himno Nacional Mexicano (Mexican National Anthem), “May the divine archangel…” (“spare us the indignity of losing to the US at the World Cup” or something)

Het Wilhelmus (The Wilhelmus), “William of Nassau am I, of Germanic descent…” (They can’t all be William of Nassau in the Netherlands, surely?)

God Defend New Zealand, “God of nations, at Thy feet…” (New Zealand asks for heavenly assistance to escape Group F)

“Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria's call obey…” (They’re pretty insistent in Nigeria when it comes to arising and obeying)

Paraguayans, the Republic or Death, “For 3 centuries a reign oppressed the unhappy peoples of America...” (Jeez, lighten up, Paraguay)

A Portuguesa (The Portuguese), “Heroes of the sea, noble people…” (Portugal harks back to its age of seafaring greatness)

“God of Justice, Thou who saved us when in deepest bondage cast...” (Serbia actually did win the Eurovision Song Contest a few years ago, but probably not with this effort)

Statna Hymna Slovenskej Republiky, “Lightning flashes over the Tatra…” (Wonderful imagery from the Slovakians)

Zdravljica (A Toast), “My friends, the vines have produced again sweet vine…” (They like their wine in Slovenia)

God bless Africa (Fitting in a year when South Africa becomes the first African nation to host a World Cup)

Himno Nacional Espanol (Spanish National Anthem), “Gloria, gloria…” (Spain does its cover version of the U2 song)

Schweizerpsalm, Cantique Suisse, Cantico Svizzero (Swiss Psalm), “When the morning…” (Switzerland gets up, has a look around, and pulls the duvet back over its head)

Himno Nacional, “Eastern landsmen, our country or the tomb!” (Thanks Uruguay; these South Americans are a bit gloomy, aren’t they?)

The Star - Spangled Banner, “O say, can you see…” (All together now, Hendrix fans - USA)

You can download the entire set or individual anthems here. Why does Uruguay’s anthem cost £1.19 while the rest are a mere 79 pence each? Because it’s 5 minutes and 5 seconds long, and you pay for what you get in the national anthems game.