COLDPLAY - CHRIS MARTIN LOSES GBP10,000 WORLD CUP BET

CHRIS MARTIN LOSES GBP10,000 WORLD CUP BET

COLDPLAY frontman CHRIS MARTIN is counting the cost after losing a GBP10,000 ($18,000) bet on the soccer World Cup. The singer backed outsiders Australia only for them to fall at the hands of Italy in the second round. Martin - currently on tour down under - says, "I lost a lot of money because I gambled on Australia getting to the semi-finals. If you play with that much passion, you deserve to do well." As his native England prepare for their quarter-final against Portugal today (1JUL06), Martin urged their players to emulate the unlucky Aussies. He adds, "England need a bit of that Aussie passion. We need to be thinking, 'We could die tomorrow, so let's start playing the best we can.'"