England’s army of fans will flock to pubs in their droves tonight to watch the crucial clash against Germany, with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
Excitement knowing if Gareth Southgate’s men can overcome our fierce rivals, the path to Euro 2020 glory would be made a little easier.
And trepidation over the possibility the game could go to penalties after a draw – given our poor record against the Germans in shoot-outs.
But this young team will not be weighed down by history, Southgate insisted, as the nation rallies behind them, along with fans at Wembley, in a bid to break the hoodoo. Bars, restaurants and beer gardens are being decked with England flags for the last-16 match at 5pm – with many bosses allowing staff to leave work early for it.
Landlords will be hoping for bumper takings after a year of closures during the pandemic that has battered the industry.
A TV audience of around 22 million, the biggest of the year so far, will be watching and tens of thousands more are expected to be in fanzones, with giant screens in Newcastle, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Rick Robinson is landlord of the Willoughby Arms in Kingston, South West London, and has 160 customers booked in to see the action. He said: “It is a great atmosphere for England games.
“If England do win, I hope people will make a good night of it. If it goes to extra time and penalties then they should be here until around 8pm. If they lose I could be in bed by 9pm.”
Norman Scott runs Dougie’s Tavern in Hebburn, South Tyneside, which has 1,000 flags up and a 100ft marquee outside. The 59-year-old said: “It is quite possible that we will have 500 here, the marquee is our fanzone.
“But people are already talking about taking a day off and asking what time they can arrive. When England score, it is just a great sight.” Many fans have built “lockdown locals” in back gardens.
They include neighbours Paul Hurton and Anthony Dunn, of Bowburn, Co Durham. The pair created a bar from a 6ft stretch of wooden fence in the summer and extended the idea for Euro 2020.
Paul, 52, has built a “man cave” with a TV, while 43-year-old Anthony has a big screen up under a gazebo so he can watch from a hot tub.
Anthony’s wife Deborah, 52, said: “Paul is asking his boss if he can get away early for the game.
“They will watch the match in his man cave, although Anthony does have a hot tub so you can watch his telly from there.”
Dean Scott, 32, has made his own “Dirty Bertie’s” shed bar at his home in Chelmsford, Essex. He said: “I’ve got crates of beer, a huge TV and more flags than I can count. It’s going to be absolutely epic in my shed.”
Businessman Noel Barton decked out his bed shop with more than 400 England flags. The 59-year-old, of Halesowen, West Mids, said: “I love it when England play. It took me hours to put the flags up over the beds but it was worth it.
The customers love it.”
The British Beer & Pub Association is hoping the match and any further England involvement will be a major boost to the ailing industry.
Chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “There is still no better place to watch live sport on the telly than at the pub. I implore fans to support England and pubs at their local.”
Tomorrow's clash will be watched by 45,000 fans at Wembley. If England win they will face either Sweden or Ukraine in Rome on July 3.
But if it goes to penalties, it could be hearts in mouths time again – as in previous shoot-outs with the Germans. They beat England on penalties at Italia ’90, again at Euro 96 – when Southgate missed his spot kick to send us crashing out in the semi-final – and in the last 16 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
But the manager said his young stars will not be fazed by a shoot-out.
Southgate added: “Something we have spoken about over the last four years is that this team doesn’t carry the baggage from previous eras.
“Many of them weren’t even born when many of those things happened and it is an irrelevance for them.”
Legendary England manager Sir Bobby Robson’s son Mark said: “Like every England fan, I can’t wait for kick off but I’m also a pretty nervous, too. England against Germany always has the potential for excitement.”
Joan Diggles, a resident at Elmstead Care Home in Chislehurst, South London, turned 95 yesterday and said: “It would make for quite the birthday present to see England through.”
Another, Brian Osborn, was at Wembley to watch Bobby Moore lift the World Cup in 1966.
The 77-year-old said: “The atmosphere was electric and extended way beyond Wembley. It boosted the nation. I’d love to experience that again. I know we can do it again.”
Harry Kane will wear a rainbow captain’s armband during the game.
The England skipper’s opposite number, Manuel Neuer, has worn one in every match his side have played in June in honour of Pride Month.
