A YOUNG England fan who won a McDonald's competition to be a World Cup mascot was distraught yesterday after discovering he'll be leading out - the Germans.

Louis Moffat, six, was lovin' it when he beat 50,000 other hopefuls and told all his pals he would lead Sven-Goran Eriksson's men onto the pitch in a group stage game.

Then came the news that instead of meeting Michael Owen and David Beckham, Louis will be rubbing shoulders with Jurgen Klinsman's Germans.

Louis, of Kibblesworth, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, was convinced he had won the chance to be an England mascot.

He even met England's 1966 hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst, director of football for the fast food giant, at one of their North-East restaurants.

Sir Geoff said it would be an experience the Low Fell under-sevens player would never forget.

But Louis and his dad Simon are stunned after learning the youngster would be leading out Germany in the tournament's opening game against Costa Rica in Munich on Friday.

Louis said: "I would have liked an England game because I don't know any of the German players.

"I have been telling everyone I would be mascot for England. I had been looking forward to meeting the team."

When McDonalds set up the meeting with Sir Geoff at the beginning of last month a company spokeswoman said it did not know which match Louis would act as mascot.

But his dad, who is accompanying Louis on the trip, said the family had been given the impression that the youngster would be involved in one of England's fixtures against Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago or Sweden.

He said: "It's still a fantastic prize but I just think to promise a kid something like that then not go through with it is very unprofessional.

"They were not sure which game it was but we were told it was one of the England group games.

"They sent the tickets on Friday morning and it's Germany versus Costa Rica.

"Louis had already told everybody we know. Everybody in the parks, the swimming baths, they were all going to be looking for him.

"A lot of people really did not believe he had actually won and said they would watch and see if he was there. I don't think it's been put together very well."

A McDonalds spokeswoman said it would be getting in touch with the family to clear up any misunderstanding.

She added: "If there has been any misunderstanding we completely apologise.

"It's still absolutely fantastic that they are going to the opening game and the opening ceremony, which I am assured is going to be absolutely wonderful.

"The competition was for a variety of different matches - the opening, some of the group games and the later stages of the competition. It was for a variety of different player escort places."