At least one Scot alive and kicking at World Cup

BERLIN, June 5 (Reuters) Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr will be one of the few Scots in the World Cup spotlight as he plays a concert to set the scene for the tournament.

Although Scotland again failed to make the finals, Kerr has no shortage of teams to cheer on in Germany. He lives in Italy, has a Japanese girlfriend and, as an avid Celtic fan, will support any player connected with the Glasgow club.

Unlike many of his compatriots, who enjoy indulging in fierce rivalry with Scotland's larger neighbour, Kerr is also hoping England have a good World Cup.

''I'm probably the only Scotsman, or one of the few Scotsmen, that won't mind England doing well,'' he told Reuters ahead of Wednesday's concert at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, which will kick off more than a month of events for fans visiting the city.

Kerr's son James is London born and bred and the singer found himself feeling for him after England lost to France in a group match at the European Championship in 2004.

''The boy was devastated,'' said Kerr, who has sold more than 20 million records in a career spanning nearly 30 years.

''I thought I can't stand to watch him like this any more.'' The question of who Scots should cheer on at the finals, which start on Friday, has sparked political controversy in Scotland and indignation among some English commentators.

Scotland's First Minister has said he will support countries such as Trinidad &Tobago, who boast several Scottish-based players, rather than their Group B opponents England.

But London-based Scottish politicians have said it is natural to back England as the two nations are part of Britain.

''The idea of winding up your local neighbours, especially if your local neighbours are big boys, I think is par for the course as long as it is only a wind-up,'' Kerr said.

''When it becomes something a bit more twisted than that, I've got no time for it at all,'' he said in a telephone interview.

But even fatherly love could not quite prompt Kerr to tell his son he wanted England to go all the way in Germany.

''Hoping that they do well is one thing but I never said the other word that begins with 'w','' Kerr said.

REUTERS PM PM1754