Python pitches in for England

Monty Python's single for the World Cup. Picture: Supplied

Monty Python stars have recorded their own unofficial soccer World Cup anthem ahead of England's campaign - with a new version of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

The comedy troupe's Eric Idle has written a fresh verse to mark the contest, making it perfect to console fans if the team crash out early.

The updated version - ahead of their 10 reunion shows at London's O2 Arena next month - is now available through iTunes.

Idle originally wrote the song for the final sequence of the Python film Life of Brian, released in 1979.

The new verse says: "When you're in the World Cup, And all your hopes are up, And everybody wants their team to win. Then they go and let you down, And come slinking back to town, It's time for this daft song to begin."

An official World Cup anthem for England featuring Gary Barlow has now been dropped.