Harry: We’ll ma
Captain’s war cry as 32million TV viewers get set to cheer on Three Lions
CAPTAIN Harry Kane has promised that his England team will ‘make the country proud’ as the nation grinds to a standstill ahead of the World Cup quarter-final.
The biggest TV audience in living memory – a total of 32million – is expected to watch the 3pm clash with Sweden at home, in pubs and on dozens of outdoor big screens.
In England’s previous match against Colombia, the penalty shootout was seen by 23.6million in Britain, while an average of 16.5million watched the whole game.
England’s tournament run in Russia has sparked scenes of wild celebration back home and Kane, 24, hopes the team will provide another cause for jubilation by reaching their first World Cup semi-final for 28 years.
Kane said: ‘After the games we always see the videos on social media. I was one of those fans not too long ago – getting drinks thrown over him, jumping about, going wild. It’s what we want, we set out to make the country proud and we feel we’ve done that so far.
‘We want to keep seeing those videos, hopefully we can do the same tomorrow and we’ll see a few more.
‘It’s about bringing the whole country together and to see them enjoying it like they are is fantastic for us.’
Weather forecasters predict that it could be the hottest day of the year, with temperatures edging above 91F (33C) in the afternoon.
To help keep cool – or steady the nerves – 38million pints of beer are set to be drunk, with the game triggering a £190million drinks and food spree. Pub takings should soar to £100million as a predicted 3.5million fans pack into their local, the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said.
It will be a great boost for the economy after a poor start to the year when the ‘Beast from the East’ cold spell kept many indoors.
Roads, high streets and train stations are likely to be empty. The RAC said it expects ‘the quietest Saturday afternoon of the year, with deserted roads’.
A win would set up a semi-final against either host nation Russia or Croatia.
Fans will hope Kane gets the chance to recreate a never-before- seen yearbook photograph, which emerged yesterday, of him lifting a cup aged 15.
Kane, the leading scorer at the World Cup with six goals, was playing for the Year 11 football team at Chingford Foundation School, east London.
But the match has caused a headache for Wimbledon, where the tennis tournament’s bosses face a scheduling nightmare as they work out a slot for the last remaining British hope Kyle Edmund’s third-round match against former world number one Novak Djokovic.
Edmund, who is desperate that the England game will not clash with the biggest match of his Wimbledon career, said of the scheduling: ‘I don’t know who does it, but I am sure they will factor it in. I don’t mind either way. Obviously I am a tennis player, so I am here to do my job first.
‘Hopefully it will be a success for both of us, England and myself.’
One solution would be to start Edmund’s match at 5.30pm, by which time the England game should be over even if it goes to penalties.Many wedding parties are also anxiously wondering whether they will be able to see the match.
George Morey, 25, and his soon-to-be bride Aimee, 24, have managed to secure a screen for their wedding reception at a golf club in Swanley, Kent.
He said: ‘There’s certainly been some heated debates about the game but she’s come round to the idea of it now. If we win it will just add to the atmosphere of the day. We can’t wait.’
Al Pimblett, 35, and Lindy Fountain, 30, from Taunton in Somerset, will not be having a big screen at their wedding, which takes place at 2.30pm, but the groom has worked out a strategy.
He said: ‘My plan is to quickly say “I do”, she does, couple of pics then jump in the wedding car and try and get the game on the phone! Not sure the missus would be too happy with that though!’
‘Roads will be deserted’