By Claire Heald BBC News

Hundreds of fans turned up at Luton to see England off Players' departure

Luton airport short-stay car park and the view is of the England team about to fly out to Germany on a private BA charter.

Kept back a few metres behind a wire fence are a couple of hundred fans here to wave them off.

"There he is, there he is", shouts a highly excited Angela Blackmore, 62, a pensioner from Cambridge.

She has her eyes fixed on England captain David Beckham who is leading the team up the steps.

The levels of excitement are unprecedented for this concrete corner of Luton.

"It's England, it's our team. We're not good at much but we're good at football" she smiled.

Stocking up

The team posed on the steps in their head-to-toe Giorgio Armani, who has again provided the suits as he did for Portugal 2004.

FOOD TO GO Also going to Germany are: Rice Krispies, Coco-pops, Frosties: 24 boxes Cornflakes: 40 boxes 1620 large Jaffa Cakes 20kgs pudding rice 200 muffins 576 Dairy Milk bars Source: The Football Association The team v the fans

They are bound for the luxury Schlosshotel Buhlerhohe in Baden-Baden.

They will be training on an international standard pitch.

Flown out for them are TV screens, DVDs, trolley-loads of food and toiletries to keep them at their familiar fit and buff levels.

Between 3ft and 6ft in height, a solid metal security barrier blocked the view of the plane, meaning people have to squat on the floor or stand on ladders to see the team.

All the fans here want is a wave and they get plenty of them - from Frank Lampard, Beckham and new boy Theo Walcott.

As Angela's presence here suggests, it is a mixed crowd of fans.

There are plenty of young men but also older adults and Luton staff - the terminal must be quite empty - and families.

A-level students have rushed here from their exams and children are making the most of a teaching training day at school.

The time is ours, said Peter Crouch lookalike Tim Noakes

Sophie Swain, and her friend Ryan, both 10, were disappointed when they arrived, saw the barbed wire and realised there would be no autographs.

But having seen the team depart and Beckham waving the England flag out of the cockpit window they are listing the players who acknowledged them at the top of their voices.

Sophie is a Gooner, here for Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell while Ryan supports Chelsea.

They proclaim the day is "wicked".

Die-hard England lovers have also made it.

Four hours before take-off the Woods family from West Sussex have their white car, with 48 St George crosses, parked in a corner nearest the runway.

It is a picture. Red and white flags are emblazoned everywhere from the bonnet, through the fluffy dice to the seats and a full Subbuteo set on the parcel shelf.

Richard and his children, Daniel, Sam and Sam are convinced England are flying out to glory.

"We're winning it without a doubt", says Richard.

You would expect the partisan crowd to turn up on a work day for a chance to stand within feet of the team.

But the depth of feeling that England will bring the trophy home can be measured in leagues.

Everyone says they can do it. It is the reason why most of them came to stand and cheer.

SCRUBBED UP 24 tubes toothpaste 24 electric toothbrushes 48 shower gels 24 styling mousse 24 vibrating razors 48 lipscreens 48 waspeze Source: The Football Association

Ike Orunta, who works at Luton airport, says his hopes rest on Wayne Rooney's fitness, a picture that will be clearer after his metatarsal scan on Wednesday.

"Everyone thinks Brazil are favourites but we need Rooney to get fit. With him we can win it.

"Without him it will be the luck of the draw".

The heroes of the hour are also a varied bag.

A scan of the supporters' shirts lined up along the fence shows Lampard, Beckham and Rooney still hold the marketing pull.

But all the talk is about Peter Crouch. Those who rate him say their admiration reaches back further than his hat trick on Saturday.

Hopes and dreams hang on the team, said Mark Powley

For Tim Noakes it comes down to keeping it in the family.

"Yes, I'm his brother", jokes the 6ft 5in former teacher.

He looks like the lanky England striker, performs a decent robot dance and makes up the remaining 2in in height in his England curly wig.

He is just back from travel in Argentina where he tried to convince locals he was the man himself.

With Crouch, England can win he says. "It's 40 years of hurt and time to bring the trophy home".

Party atmosphere

Inside the terminal building the first groups of fans are departing for Germany and police are checking their identities to ensure banning orders against troublemakers are working.

TIME OFF Widescreen LCD TV each Golf clubs DVD players 40 cool boxes Stretchers 100 training cones 122 pairs white socks 7 pairs boots per player Source: The Football Association

Out here in the car park it's a party atmosphere where England songs boom out of car stereos.

There are security guards, armed police, and plain-clothes officers because this situation is an open one.

All that is needed is a car park ticket and people are in. It is the closest the public will get to the players on home soil for weeks.

With the plane boarded and taxiing out England are off. In the crowd, people are checking their camera phone pictures and the feeling is it was well worth the trip.

A-level student, Mark Powley rushed here with friends from his exams.

All the supporters want is a wave

"It embodied the spirit of what they are going into the World Cup with," he said.

"Everyone has come together.

"The focus was just on Rooney and now it seems the team spirit is really bonded.