WORLD CUP: A NATION HOLDS ITS BREATH
■ England playing for first semi-final place since 1990 ■ Pubs and bars expected to be packed to rafters
IT IS the first time that England have reached the World Cup quarter-finals in more than a decade – and today millions will watch the national team take on Sweden in the hope of moving one step closer to the final.
As the 3pm kick-off draws closer, the country is expected to grind to a standstill as the nation tunes in to see if the team will make it through to the semifinals, something England have not achieved since 1990. They achieved a quarter-final stage in Germany in 2006 but lost to Portugal.
Pubs and bars are expected to be packed to the rafters as Gareth Southgate’s side play to stay in the competition.
But shopping streets could be abandoned, and organisers have changed timings of other sporting events, festivals and gigs to avoid clashing with the highly-anticipated match.
In York, the Spark collection of food, drink and retail outlets was expecting such a high turnout that it ticketed access to the site, to keep crowd numbers at a safe limit.
And in Leeds, bar The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes is anticipating a jam-packed day of trade.
Nicole Banks, the assistant general manager, said: “The phone has been going crazy since Tuesday with people trying to book tables. We’re confident the atmosphere will be second to none. It’s great to see everyone coming together and celebrating England’s success. Let’s hope they can take it all the way.” London’s Oxford Street – one of the world’s most famous shopping destinations – is expected to be quieter than it typically would be on a Saturday afternoon, as people stay at home or gather in bars to watch the match. Paul Barnes, director of external affairs at the New West End Company business group, said: “There’s no question that the World cup itself has been great for retailing. “There’s been a big boost for retailers. There’s a feel-good factor generally, the weather’s good, the football’s making everyone feel good – they’re buying barbecues, they’re buying football strips, they’re buying big TVs.
“So there’s been a boost because of that. On the issue of the actual day, then of course a lot of people stay in and watch the match so we probably expect there to be fewer people around in the West End shopping.”
Closer to home, Dan Wharton, Marketing Manager at Trinity Leeds shopping centre, said shoppers had still been paying a visit during the football fever.
He said: “We’ve installed a super-sized screen at Trinity Kitchen showing all the big games to make sure shoppers and diners don’t miss any of the World Cup action.
“It’s proved a big draw, as has our World Cup offer where diners get a free beer for every goal England scores.”
International consumer company Kantar Worldpanel predicted earlier in the week that the game could generate £860m of grocery sales yesterday and today, as people stocked up on barbecue food and alcohol.
A number of village and school fetes across the country, as well as festivals and cricket games, have made changes to schedules to accommodate the game. And some events have announced that the match will be streamed, meaning that football is likely to be the focus for 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, a kebab shop worker has become a hit with football fans for bearing a resemblance to Premier League star Mohamed Salah.
Erik Tekelyan, 20, works 24hour shifts in the Oazis restaurant in Samara, Russia, which has been busy with supporters who have flooded into the city for the World Cup.
He said he was not aware of the Egypt and Liverpool star until he was told of his likeness, but is delighted with the comparison. And he backed England or Belgium to win the tournament. “I hope the best one wins,” he said.
“It’s great to see everyone coming together and celebrating England.” Nicole Banks, general assistant manager at The Brotherhood or Pursuits and Pastimes.
AS “FOOTBALL coming home” fever becomes infectious, an expectant country hopes Gareth Southgate’s young England side can extend their stay in Russia by winning their World Cup quarter-final against Sweden.
The biggest game since England lost to Portugal at the corresponding stage of the 2006 tournament, cricket fixtures – and other events – are being hastily rearranged so the nation can watch the big match.
As the Olympics and Paralympics have demonstrated, sport has a galvanising effect and the euphoria was evident after England actually won a penalty shootout against Colombia. It’s a fervent wish that today’s encounter is more routine, if only to spare the nation’s nerves for greater tests to come.
And then the tennis as East Yorkshire’s Kyle Edmond prepares to take on former champion Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon on a momentous day which, with luck, has the potential to be a game-changer for sport and national pride.