Fan-tastic
Millions ‘work from home’ to watch England’s opener
ENGLAND came to a standstill yesterday as the Three Lions romped to victory over Iran in their World Cup opener.
Footie fans packed into pubs, bars and fan parks across the country as Gareth Southgate’s men thrashed their Group B rivals 6-2 in Qatar.
An estimated 80% of workers avoided going into the office ahead of the lunchtime kick-off and opted to work from home – or watch from home – instead.
A YouGov poll predicted that some 11 million were expected to take the day off “sick” in order to watch the game.
Many schools allowed youngsters to skip their usual lessons so they could watch the eagerly awaited clash.
Shopping centres and major roads were deserted as the nation’s attention turned to events 4,500 miles away in Doha.
Congestion in London during the morning rush-hour was at 67%, down from 75% the same time last week, while in Birmingham it was 59%, compared with 73% last week.
Fans more used to summer tournaments did not let the torrential wintry rain in some parts of the country stop them heading out to watch the game with fellow supporters.
More than nine million pints were sunk across the country as thirsty England fans cheered their heroes.
Electrician Steve Francis, 48, from Perry Barr, Birmingham, cancelled a job to watch in a pub on the city’s famous Broad Street.
He said: “I was meant to be doing some work today but I cancelled on the client. When I
I cancelled on a client.. when I told them why, they understood ELECTRICIAN STEVE FRANCIS WATCHED GAME
told them why, they understood. The other games are evening or night kick-offs so this was the only one where work was going to be a problem.”
He added: “It’s weird watching a World Cup when it’s cold and wet outside, but there was no way I was missing the game. ”
Fans queued from before 9am to get into sold-out Boxpark venues around London – at Shoreditch in the east of the capital, Wembley in the north west and Croydon in the south.
The Budweiser Fan Festival in central London was packed with supporters in safari hats several hours before kick-off. Accountant Tom Davies, 25, from Birmingham, joked: “I’ve been pacing up and down so much that I could start raising money for the NHS.”
Beers were launched into the air when 19-year-old Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in the 35th minute.
Former England international Teddy Sheringham, who was among those watching the game at the venue, described the goal as “beautiful”.
Student Scott Dawson, 19, said after the game: “What a perfect start for Gareth’s boys. I could hear the fans on the telly singing Jingle Bells – we’ve not heard that at a World Cup before.
“I skipped lectures to watch the game today. I’ll be amazed if anyone actually turned up for classes at all.
“It was a great game. Iran aren’t the greatest side but England just need to beat whoever they play.”
Fans also packed into Manchester’s Mayfield Depot, billed as Europe’s largest World Cup fan park, where they belted out God Save the King and Football’s Coming Home.
Freelance designer Phil Lark, 45, said: “It’s dark and grey outside but Gareth has lifted our spirits.
“The team were fantastic and, as a
United fan, it was great to see Rashford getting his goal.
“We just need to sign Bellingham, he was man of the match by a distance. What a talent.”
However, England’s World Cup opener did not go without a hitch.
Gary Lineker, who is leading the BBC’s coverage of the tournament, was forced to apologise at half-time as viewers watching on iPlayer who experienced difficulties.
The BBC later said it was made aware of “an issue affecting some users” which it was trying to fix.