Millions of pints will be downed tomorrow as England supporters limber up for the big match against Senegal tomorrow evening.
Experts estimate that 35 million pints will be consumed and that beer sales will rocket by 50 per cent on the busiest Super Sunday for a year as 24 million people – almost half of England’s population – tune in to watch the match at 7pm.
The British Beer and Pub Association say 15 million pints will be downed in pubs across the country, while 20 million will be supped at home.
The match is set to be the biggest event on a Sunday for pubs and home drinking since the Euro 2020 final held in July last year, which attracted a record 31 million viewers.
The first Christmas Otley run, an infamous pub crawl for Leeds University students, kicked off the celebrations ahead of tomorrow’s match, with participants dressing up to celebrate Christmas while donning an England flag.
People taking part dressed up in their best Christmas gear to mark the first official pub crawl of the festive season
Some also took the fancy dress to the next level, dressing up as traffic cones and carrying an England flag with them ahead of Sunday’s match
The Otley run is infamous in Leeds and is regarded as a rite of passage for many students who attend Leeds University
The British Beer and Pub Association and GlobalData Retail also estimate that £90 million will be splurged at pubs, while £175 million is set to be spent on supermarket food and drinks for home parties while the match is on.
Thousands are also expected to cram into Boxpark parties in London, with special screenings also being put on in Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: ‘At home and at the bar, the beer is flowing. When England do well, so do our pubs and breweries.’
The first Christmas Otley run, an infamous pub crawl for Leeds University students, kicked off the celebrations ahead of tomorrow’s match, with participants dressing up to celebrate Christmas while donning an England flag.
Meanwhile, Senegal fans have been creating a party atmosphere in Qatar with dancing, singing and drumming in the streets ahead of tomorrow’s clash.
England supporters in Qatar are optimistic about progressing to the quarter-finals given the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions are missing former Liverpool ace Sadio Mane through injury.
But Senegal still have a number of top players in their ranks, including Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, his Blues teammate Kalidou Koulibaly and Watford winger Ismaila Sarr.
Senegal’s stadium hype man Boubacar Diallo, also known as DJ Boubs, has been tipped as one to watch at the second-round game to be held at the Al Bayt Stadium, in Al Khor, north of Doha.
He predicted a ‘wonderful, amazing’ atmosphere at the match, but warned Senegal are ready to fight for their place in the next round.
Students donned the Christmas gear, including festive pyjamas and costumes, to celebrate England ahead of the match on Sunday evening
Many were out to celebrate the World Cup clash this weekend and to mark the beginning of the Christmas season
‘All Senegalese fans expect it will be a great match, a big game, it will be a game that we know your players and we’re ready,’ he said.
‘African people and Senegalese people are not afraid of England because our players play in England. We know who is Harry Kane, we know who is Marcus Rashford, we know who is Phil Foden.’
He said of the fans: ‘They are exciting, they make noise, they’re cool, but we have only one threat in this match – there a lot of English people in Qatar and there will be more (in number) than Senegalese fans.
‘But we’re ready for the match, we’re ready for the game and we aren’t afraid.
‘We’re going to win, we are sure we’re going to win, and Cameroon do that, Tunisia do that, why not Senegal?’
World Cup stadium DJ Tony Perry also warned England fans they are getting ‘carried away’ over their win against Wales, but feels that the Lions may have a chance.
‘You are getting carried away with a 3-0 win against Wales maybe, but I am starting to feel if we do get past Senegal and face France, I fancy our chances in this tournament – I half do,’ he said.
Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse could miss the game due to illness.
Senegal’s stadium hype man Boubacar Diallo, also known as DJ Boubs, has been tipped as one to watch at the second-round game to be held at the Al Bayt Stadium, in Al Khor, north of Doha
Senegal fans have been creating a party atmosphere in Qatar with dancing, singing and drumming in the streets ahead of tomorrow’s clash
Senegal supporters have been dressed to the nines in Qatar. Pictured: A Senegalese fan wears a boubou, fashioned out of the Senegalese National flag
Senegal and England fans have been enjoying the festivities together in Qatar ahead of the big clash tomorrow
England fans Fiona Thorne and husband Russ, who travelled out to support the England team, pictured in Doha Souk on a camel
Senegal fans have been creating an exciting atmosphere around the highly anticipated match tomorrow in Doha
The former Birmingham and Portsmouth man was part of the 2002 squad which shocked holders France in the opening game before eventually losing to Turkey in the quarter-finals.
The 46 year-old was missing from his media duties on Saturday and unable to take training on Friday.
The match is set to be refereed by Ivan Barton, a 31-year-old University of El Salvador professor in organic chemistry.
Barton, who is officiating his first World Cup, oversaw Germany’s 2-1 loss to Japan and Brazil’s 1-0 win over Switzerland.
England are looking to book their third consecutive major tournament quarter-final under Gareth Southgate.
Southgate’s side sealed a place in the knockout stages on Tuesday after defeating Wales 3-0 to finish top of the group.
Senegal meanwhile have impressed despite being without talisman Sadio Mane through injury and booked their place in the last-16 with a 2-1 win over Ecuador as Group A runners-up.
England fans celebrate next to a dejected Wales fan at the Budweiser Fan Festival London at Outernet, during a screening of the FIFA World Cup
The England team beat Wales in the Group B match with a final score of 3-0, knocking the Welsh side out of the running
England have never faced Senegal but head into the game unbeaten against African opposition at the World Cup finals.
Their first was in 1986 against Morocco when they were held to a 0-0 draw and that was followed four years later by their famous 3-2 quarter-final win over Cameroon at Italia ’90 when they came back from 2-1 to win in extra-time.
Since then they have defeated Tunisia 2-0 at World Cup ’98, drew with Nigeria and Algeria in 2002 and 2010 respectively and beaten Tunisia again at the last World Cup 2-1 thanks to a last gasp Harry Kane strike.