Hear Monty Python's unofficial World Cup anthem

The surviving members of Monty Python: Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and John Cleese. Photo / AP

Monty Python have released an unofficial World Cup anthem for England - a reworking of Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

Unashamedly pessimistic about the British team's chances in Brazil, the comedy troupe have added an extra verse to help fans keep cheerful even as England inevitably "go and let you down".

The new recording comes ahead of 10 Python reunion shows at London's O2 Arena next month, and is now available to download through the iTunes store (or listen, below).

Since Eric Idle wrote and sang the original song to feature at the end of Life of Brian in 1979, it has become a popular and memorable hit among crowds at sporting events and also featured in the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.

The new verse, sung by Idle, goes: "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."

With less than a week to go until England's World Cup opener against Italy, the Python offering is one of a number of unofficial England anthems available to fans.

What had been billed as the official World Cup song for England, a reworking of the Take That hit Greatest Day by Gary Barlow, has now been dropped by the FA.

The Python team are releasing a number of their recordings in the coming weeks with their Monty Python Sings album due to be reissued on 30 June.

A box set of all their albums will also come out the same day called Monty Python's Total Rubbish: The Complete Collection with remastered versions of all nine UK-released albums.

Their final live show next month is to be broadcast into 450 UK cinemas and 1,500 worldwide.

- Independent