ENGLAND boss Sven Goran Erikkson could p-p-p-pick up a penguin to boost his ailing World Cup squad.

And there are plenty of the soccer-loving birds on show at Weymouth Sea life Park.

They may not be very good on the wing but the talented penguins at the Lodmoor-based centre love nothing better than a four-a-side kickabout.

In fact footie has gone down such a storm with the eight Humboldt penguins that their keepers, Nina Godsell and Julie Ions, have even started holding daily matches in their new purpose built enclosure.

Nina said: "The penguins love playing with any shiny objects and they have great fun chasing bubbles. With all the excitement that is building up over the World Cup we thought we would try a football and they are having a great time with it."

However in the latest practice session there was a Roy Keane-style tantrum - one of the frustrated penguins tired of not getting its fair share of the ball and retired in a sulk to its nesting box.

"There was quite a crowd of visitors watching and they all thought it was incredibly funny," said Nina.

The Sea Life Park's resident seals have long been keen footballers but their skills pale in comparison to the fancy footwork, deft dribbling and neat beak-control of the Humboldts.

"The seals are now lucky if they ever get their ball back. I suppose we are going to have to get another one," added Nina.

The penguins, who only took up residence in their £200,000 enclosure at Easter, have astonished staff with how quickly they have settled into their new home.

"As luck would have it we had four males and four females and they have all paired up," said Nina.

"Each pair retires to their own nest box every evening, but they're naturally social creatures and first thing in the morning it's fascinating to watch as they wander in and out making brief social calls on their neighbours."