Thai cave boy pictured in England shirt would 'love' Three Lions to win World Cup

Football fan: Sompong Jaiwong pictured in his England shirt
Thai Navy SEALs via Getty Images

One of the boys trapped in a cave in Thailand is a huge England fan who would “love” to see the Three Lions win the World Cup, his uncle has revealed.

Sompong Jaiwong was pictured last week in an England shirt after rescuers discovered the youngster and his football teammates deep in a vast cave complex in Chiang Rai province.

The “football mad” 13-year-old, known as Pong to his friends, is a Liverpool fan with aspirations to one day play in the Premier League.

The 12 boys and their coach have been trapped in the flooded cave since June 23 and a rescue mission to free them still ongoing.

Thailand Cave Rescue - In pictures

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Pong’s uncle, Chai Jaiwong, told The Sun: “We are worried sick about him and just want him home. He had been watching the World Cup with me before all this happened and he would love England to win it.

“His favourite player in the world is Messi but he loves English football and Harry Kane.

“He’s football mad and spends all his spare time playing or watching.”

Pong's teacher Manutsanun Kuntun previously said he "dreams of becoming a footballer for the Thai national team".

It comes as England star John Stones revealed he had been discussing the plight of the young footballers, who are all aged between 11 and 16, with his Three Lions teammates.

Stones said: "I’ve been speaking about it with a few of the boys, it sort of brings home what people’s situations are at the minute, and it’s so sad to see where they are and we hope they get out safe and sound.

A graphic showing the path to the boys trapped in the cave complex
MailOnline

"They won’t see this but to everyone, their friends and family, all of the boys, all of the England squad, all of our thoughts are with them.

"We want to see them get out safe and sound."

Today Fifa sent a letter to the president of the Football Association of Thailand offering its "deepest sympathies and support" to the families of the boys.

The letter, signed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino also said the organisation would like to invite the youngsters and their coach to the World Cup final in Russia, should they be rescued in time and are healthy enough to travel.

The team's appearance at the final would "undoubtedly be a wonderful moment of communion and celebration", the letter said.

The boys have asked the navy Seals taking care of them in the cave for details about what has happened in the World Cup.

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