Team nicknames usually refer to the colour of the shirt (example: the Azzurri or Les Bleus) or some element of the football association crest (example The Three Lions). Others are a bit more imaginative (example The Desert Foxes) and some refer specifically to recent events (example The Pirate Ship and Olsen?s Eleven). Some may surprise you. Until very recently I genuinely thought that everyone in Germany referred to the national team as Die Mannschaft. But after my digging I learned that wasn't true.

For one or two teams below I was either unable to find a translation or explanation for the team nickname (why are Slovakia called the Repre, why are Greece referred to as the Galanoleyki?) or unable to find any nickname at all.

So feedback, corrections and suggestions are all welcome in the comments. What team will you be supporting come  June11th?

Algeria ? Les Fennecs (The Desert Foxes)

Argentina ? Albicelestes (White and Sky blue)

Australia ? Socceroos

Brazil ? Seleção (The Selection). Also Canarinhos (Little Canary) and Verde e Amarelo (Green and Yellow).

Cameroon ? Lions Indomptables (Indomitable Lions)

Chile ? La Roja (The Red)

Cote d?Ivoire ? Les Éléphants (The Elephants)

Denmark ? Olsens Elleve (Olsen's Eleven) ? In honour of popular head coach Morten Olsen.

England ? The Three Lions ? From the FA crest.

France ? Les Bleus (The Blues)

Germany ? National Mannschaft (National Team) or DFB Elf (DFB Eleven) or National Elf (National Eleven). The nickname Die Mannschaft (the team) is only used by non-German media.

Ghana ? The Black Stars

Greece ? To Piratiko (The Pirate Ship) ? Since Euro 2004. But another common nickname is apparently Galanoleyki, though I have no idea what that means.

Honduras ? Los Catrachos which is apparently how other Central Americans refer to Hondurans. Also La H (The H) ? The crest is a large H, which looks extremely cool on the shirt..

Italy ? Azzurri (Sky Blues)

Japan ? Blue Samurai

Mexico ? El Tri (after the three colours or ? tricolor? on the Mexican flag).

Netherlands ? Oranje

North Korea ? Chollima (some sort of mythical horse)

New Zealand ? All Whites (rugby union team are the All Blacks)

Nigeria ? Super Eagles Paraguay ? La Albirroja (The White-Red) or Guaraní (an indigenous people)

Portugal ? Selecção das Quinas (Team of the Five Shields) ? Referring to the five shields on the FA crest. I think.

Serbia ? Beli Orlovi (White Eagles) ? Referring to the white double headed eagle on the Serbia coat of arms.

Slovakia ? Repre (at least according to Wikipedia, but there's no explanation as to what this means).

Slovenia ? Zmajceki (Dragons) ? Because there's a dragon on the crest of capital city Ljubljana.

South Africa ? Bafana Bafana (The Boys)

South Korea ? Taeguk Warriors. Fans are often called The Red Devils.

Spain ? La Furia Roja (Red Fury)

Switzerland ? Schweizer Nati

United States ? Often referred to as the MNT (Men's National Team) or The Yanks.

Uruguay ? La Celeste (The Sky Blue)

Written by Brian