Streets empty as England and Wales fans begin to pack pubs on both sides of the border

England and Wales fans are leaving work early to pack pubs on both sides of the border ahead of tonight’s ‘Battle of Britain’ in the World Cup.

Jubilant workers took to social media to brag of their swift exit from the office, with many heading straight to the pub on a day when some £215million is expected to be spent on booze.

Generous bosses have allowed their staff to be flexible in the hours running up to the much-anticipated clash in Qatar, with some even offering to provide a £25 bar tab for drinks and food, and paracetamol for the inevitable sore heads tomorrow morning.

Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions have won the last six matches against their rivals, but Rob Page’s men, led by talisman Gareth Bale, need their first win over England since 1984 and other results to go their way as their last 16 hopes hang by a thread.

England fans hit the bar early as they enjoy a morning pint at the Five Swans pub in Newcastle

Welsh fans Ceiron Watkins, Jack Grout, Elliot Jones, Sam Barton and Harry Wren enjoy a pre-match beer in Tenerife

One enthusiastic supporter said on social media: ‘Been told I can finish work early so I can watch the football.’

Another tweeted: ‘Work done for the day and already in my England top with a beer ready for the big game. Cmon England.’ 

A third added: ‘Work done. Roll on the mighty England baby.’

However, some fear they won’t remember the game after starting too early on the beers.

In Hull, electrician James Halford admitted that by 3pm he was already on his tenth drink of the day. 

Clutching a vodka and orange in the city’s Yates bar, James, 24, said: ‘At this rate I won’t even make the game. And if I do, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to remember it. 

‘We started on the booze first thing this morning – I took the day off work. ‘But I’m meant to be in tomorrow at 7.30am. I’m not looking forward to it at all.’ 

Pal Tom Sweeney, 25, added: ‘We went to a Kasabian gig in Sheffield last night, so we haven’t really stopped drinking since then. ‘We’re having a great time. And Gareth Southgate is going to make it even better later.’ 

Earlier, a number of business leaders revealed the steps they are taking to let their staff be flexible and enjoy the football. 

Chris Schutrups, of The Mortgage Hut, said: ‘We’re supporting our team by offering them either time off or time in lieu if they’re not a football fan.

‘As a thank you to our team members for their hard work, we are also offering an allowance, which will be paid in their monthly pay, of £25 per match to use on food or drinks.’

Ross Boyd, CEO at Dashly.com, added: ‘If someone wants to slip off early to get a few beers in before the match, we certainly won’t hold it against them.

‘This is one of the biggest sporting events in this country for some time so you’d think most employers would get into the spirit of things. Equally, we’ll be bringing in some paracetamol tomorrow as there may well be a few sore heads.’

Many streets across the country appeared deserted today as Britain ground to a halt in preparation for the crucial Group B fixture. 

A village that straddles the border between Wales and England will be divided tonight with one pub on the Shropshire side set to be full of Three Lions fans and the Powys bar packed with Dragons.

Families, friendships and even marriages will be split in Llanymynech at 7pm when the ‘Battle of Britain’ kicks off in Doha.

On the Powys side of town, landlord John Turner, 58, is expecting a bar full of Welsh fans at The Dolphin Inn – but the east Londoner was booed by punters this morning when he revealed an England shirt under his Cymru hoodie.   

He confessed: ‘I might be the landlord of the village’s Welsh pub but I’m still supporting England.’

At the other pub, across the A483 in Shropshire, Jason Farr expects 90 per cent of customers at the Cross Keys to support England. ‘There tends to be a bit more of a mix when it’s England v Wales in the rugby,’ he said. ‘I think some Welsh fans will perhaps stay at home.’ 

Charlotte Pryce, 34, who lives in the English half with Welshman Adam Owen, 35, said: ‘I’ll be supporting Wales just to keep the peace but if England win I’ll be secretly delighted.’

England are also under huge pressure in the first ever match between the home nations at a World Cup, needing a better result after a bore 0-0 draw against the USA on Friday night. 

They beat Iran 6-2 in their first match and will top the group with a win but a draw will also see them through. 

Gareth Southgate’s side are all but guaranteed to qualify for the knockout round, barring a heavy defeat and a win for either Iran and USA in the other Group B fixture being played simultaneously, while Wales must hope that game finishes in a draw and that they can pull off a shock victory against England.

England fans hit the bars as they enjoy an early afternoon pint at the Five Swans pub in Newcastle

More England fans outside the Five Swans pub in Newcastle – one wearing a graduation outfit

Three young Wales football fans in the city centre of Cardiff, Wales

England fans in Birmingham enjoy an early pint before tonight’s match with Wales

An England fan dons a mask of Gareth Southgate as he enjoys morning pints in Birmingham before tonight’s World Cup match with Wales

One fan warming up before the big game tonight in the Batons Arms Pub, Birmingham

(L-R) Karl Peachey,Dave Gerrards and Jake Prince at the Butchers arms in Oswestry, Shropshire

Cheril Eisenbach who works at the Butchers Arms in Oswestry getting ready for tonight 

Ross Kayley at the Fox Inn in Oswestry – Ross thinks England will win 4-2

If the other game ends with a win for either side, Rob Page’s men would have to beat Gareth Southgate’s side by four clear goals. 

Despite the odds being stacked against Wales, Tuesday night’s match is still a huge fixture, which could prove to be Wales’ last at a World Cup for many years given that their last appearance came in 1958. 

O’Neill’s, a popular pub near Cardiff railway station in the city centre, had said this morning they were banning English supporters from entering as they wanted to create a ‘safe atmosphere’ for Wales fans.

But the venue, which has giant screens up for the World Cup match and has shown all previous Three Lions matches, has since performed a U-turn after a storm of protest.

The pub chain announced: ‘We have made the decision to welcome both Wales and England football fans to watch the exciting World Cup 2022 tie this evening. 

‘As always, we will have security in place to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy the football.’

Meanwhile, the boss of fellow pub chain Fuller’s said the tournament has been a huge boost for venues since it began on November 20, after a difficult couple of years for the hospitality sector due to Covid.

Chief executive Simon Emeny told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme: ‘It’s going to be the biggest of the three group matches, a Home Nations fixture with a lot hanging on it.

‘We as a company and a sector will be crossing everything for an English victory because they will then play a last 16 game on Sunday at 7pm which will be great for pubs, so we’d get a great day and an even better day on Sunday.

‘It’s very much additional bookings [that the World Cup has produced] – for the first match last Monday, takings ranged from up 30%-40%.

‘There’s no better place to watch an English victory or performance than in a pub with your friends and family and colleagues, it’s a much more enjoyable experience than watching it at home.

It doesn’t displace [Christmas bookings], it’s incremental, which is why we need England – or Wales – to get as far as possible for the sector when we’ve had a difficult two or three years, so we’ll be crossing everything for an England win at Fuller’s today.’

Welsh fans Leah Phillips and Morgan Williams enjoy the sun in Tenerife before their side’s crunch Group B clash with England

England fans from Sheffield enjoy the sun in Tenerife before their side’s crunch Group B clash with Wales 

Lee Edwards, Lee Brickell and Steven Powell from Abertillery soak up the sun in Tenerife 

England fans Jack Bayly, Lewis Foster, Lewis Hopkins and Daniel Walker enjoy beers in Tenerife

England fans from Stoke-on-Trent enjoy beers in the sun in Tenerife before tonight’s big game

Tommy Scott and girlfriend Jess Connell from Leeds enjoy their pre-match drinks in Tenerife

Meanwhile, fans in Tenerife are preparing for tonight’s clash the only way they know how – with a full English breakfast washed down with an ice cold Spanish beer.

Thousands of Welsh and England supporters have flocked to Spain for some winter sun and are already packing into the lively bars and restaurants as excitement builds towards the big kick off..

Among them were a group of friends from Pontypool, south Wales, who opted to enjoy the beautiful game in laid-back Tenerife rather than endure the harsh rules of Qatar.

Jack Grout, 22, told MailOnline: ‘We came here especially to watch the World Cup. We’ve been here for about ten days.

‘We decided it was a much better bet to be here in Tenerife than going to Qatar because of the expense and all the rules and regulations there.

‘It’s been great fun so far, a real laugh. We just hope our boys can do us proud.’

Friends Leah Phillips, 26, and Morgan Williams, 27, from Merthyr have been sunbathing between matches.

Leah, who works in finance, told MailOnline: ‘We we’re looking for some winter sun and we knew lots of Welsh fans were coming to Tenerife to watch the football so we thought ‘why not’.’

A group of England fans from Sheffield told how they were looking forward to the game.

Chris Taylor said: ‘As long as England score I will be happy!’

Back home, Wales fan Lara Courtney, 23, got into the Battle of Britain spirit by joining pal Ciara O’Donnell, 22, for a pre match drink.

The pair were among early punters at Lot 75 in Shenfield, Essex, which has decked itself out with flags and bunting for the footballing fiesta in Qatar.

Lara said: ‘We have nothing to lose so I’m sure the team will throw themselves into it and try and get some Welsh pride back. Beating the English will be tough but I’m sure we can do it.’

Ciara joked: ‘It’s nice of the Welsh to turn up but they will be going home. England will do the nation proud and Phil Foden and Harry Kane will score.’

Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions have won the last six matches against their rivals but Rob Page’s men, led by talisman Gareth Bale, need their first win over England since 1984 and results to go their way as their last 16 hopes hang by a thread.

England are also under huge pressure in the first ever match between the home nations at a World Cup, needing a better result after a bore 0-0 draw against the USA on Friday night. They beat Iran 6-2 in their first match and will top the group with a win but a draw will also see them through.

Saint George’s Cross flags on display at the Kirby Estate, Bermondsey, South East London ahead of England vs Wales World Cup match

England fans pose for a photograph at a souq in Doha on the day of the FIFA World Cup Group B match between Wales and England

A man selling Wales scarves and bucket hats in Queen Street, in the city centre of Cardiff

An England fan in Birmingham holds a pint ahead of this evening’s crucial World Cup clash

Fans Terry and Joan in Birmingham cheering England on – the game kicks off at 7pm 

England fan James Vincent (left) and Mike Ritter gather at the Red Lion Pub & Restaurant in Doha, Qatar

Fans gather at the Red Lion Pub & Restaurant in Doha, Qatar, ahead of the match

Andy Pearson, pictured at the Saltney Tavern – ‘the last pub in England’ – was born in Chester while his brother John was born just over the Welsh border in Mancot

Fans wearing hats with the England flag on them and novelty glasses saying ‘goal!’ in the Grant Arms Pub, Birmingham

Thousands of England and Wales fans descended on Doha today for their crucial World Cup encounter dubbed the ‘Battle of Britain.’

Doha was a sea of red and white shirts as the fans flooded into the city for the first-ever clash between two home nations at a World Cup.

Around 30 flights carrying supporters heading to Qatar touched down at breakfast time as they were greeted by searing heat.

England fans gathered in Doha’s Red Lion pub from early this morning and began downing pints of lager.

Graham Eastham, 38, draped in an England flag, roared: ‘This is going to be a great derby. But only one team’s going to win and it’s not Wales.

‘We’ve had a fantastic tournament and it’s going to get even better when we beat Wales.’

Rob Carty, 59 and his son Elliot, 28, from Bristol, added: ‘This is going to be an epic British match and we’re all looking forward to it.

‘England are the better side but Wales need to save their pride because they’ve had a rotten World Cup. It’ll be like being back home for this game with a passionate British crowd getting behind their teams.’

Elliot said: ‘England will win but it’ll be a tough game. Both sets of players know each other well so it’ll be very competitive.

‘Wales have had a terrible World Cup and they’ll be going home before we are.’

Fans gather at the Red Lion Pub & Restaurant in Doha, Qatar, on the day of the FIFA World Cup Group B match between Wales and England

A Wales fan and an England fan put rivalries aside and enjoy a drink together before the game

Wales fans Tony Rodgers (left), Mike Gristwood (centre) and Steve Pope (right) in the Red Lion Pub & Restaurant in Doha, Qatar

England fan Issey Bulter and Welsh fan Rachel Walters in Qatar

An England fan holds up the cross of St George in Doha before this evening’s match

England fans were all smiles in the hours leading up to kick off at the World Cup in Qatar

John Chambers and Antony Morgan having a beer and getting ready for the game in Birmingham

The streets of London were quiet today as millions prepare to watch England’s clash with Wales in the World Cup

Empty roads outside of Wrexham, Wales, before this evening’s crunch World Cup clash

The M20 was almost completely deserted today between Folkestone and Ashford in Kent ahead of the much-anticipated fixture

Tony Meakin, 55, from London, said: ‘It’ll be a cracking match and we’re going to have a good few pints before kick off.

‘The atmosphere will be electric. All the England fans want to see a great victory so that we can send the Welsh home.’

His friend Andrew Curl, 48, said: ‘It’s been a fantastic tournament so far and it’ll be great to beat our Welsh cousins.

‘We’ve been here since the start of the tournament and have been having a good laugh with the Welsh lads. But sadly they’ll be crying tonight as they’ll have to go home.’

Joe Seymour, 36, a town planner from Cheltenham and Welsh fan, said: ‘It has cost me £2,500 to see this match, but every penny is just worth it.

‘I think Wales can beat England, we have to be mentally tougher and really up for it.

‘It is an absolute privilege to see this match and to be in Doha, where the people have been fantastic with us.’

He and his friend Ciarhan Webb, 36, from Cardiff raised a glass to Gareth Bale and his team at Doha’s Red Lion pub.

Mr Webb said: ‘for so long we have been the underdogs, but tonight we can prove our worth. We have the players, they have the experience and they have us as fans cheering them on.

‘I truly believe Wales can beat England and if everything goes well we can qualify and carry on in the World Cup.’

Lee Trowbridge, 40 and his friend Sam Grimwood, 39 revealed how they had walked to the stadium from Doha airport because they could not get a cab.

Mr Trowbridge, a Spurs fan from Portsmouth said: ‘We’re really up for this game. We’ve had a great day in Doha and have been so excited that we didn’t want to wait around for a taxi so decided to walk.

‘It’s great getting together with the Welsh lads. We’ve had a good laugh and the better team will win, which is England.’

The two men flew in for the match from Dubai where they have been staying during the World Cup.

Lydia Smith, 29 from Surrey said: ‘England will win this game but it’s going to be close. It’ll be like a derby game and they’re always unpredictable.’

Paul ‘Tango’ Gregory, 60 one of England’s most famous football fans said: ‘I’ll bet the shirt on my back that England will win even though I don’t wear it that much.

‘It’s been a fantastic tournament and now all we need is for England to make it even better by winning and going through to the next round.

His partner Rachel Seeviour, 51 added: ‘I’m getting very excited about this game. We’ve been making lots of noise and having a few drinks.

‘There’s been great banter with the Wales fans and weee all enjoying the sunshine and looking forward to a classic British football match.’

He and Rachel, who have spent around £4000 on their trip thus far, w will leave Doha tomorrow and head to Dubai for three days to save on their expenses.

Mr Gregory added: ‘It is cheaper for us to fly to Dubai and stay there for a few days, rather than hang about here, where hotels are very expensive and booked up.

‘But as we are 99 per cent certain of going through to the next round, we also very sure that we will be returning for the next match.

‘We hope England go all the way and we’re out here right to the end of the tournament.’

England and Wales fans number around 10,000 in Doha. Millions will be watching at home

Wales fans pose for a photograph in a souk in Doha on the day of the FIFA World Cup Group B match between Wales and England

England fan Billy Jones from Sevenoaks and Welsh fan Richard Bradshaw from Bangor

Wales fans pose for a photograph in Doha on the day of the FIFA World Cup Group B match between Wales and England

England fans Tony Meakin, left, and Andrew Curl enjoy a pre-match pint in Doha

England fans (left to right) Mick Martin, Alan Lyness, Andrew Doyke, David Powell and Alistair Banham in the Red Lion Pub & Restaurant in Doha, Qatar

England fans pose for a photograph on the Corniche in Doha on the day of the FIFA World Cup Group B match between Wales and England

England fans arriving at the Red Lion in Doha ahead of tonight’s crunch Group B clash

Doha’s Red Lion pub has become a popular haunt for supporters of both home nations and the tens of thousands of international fans who have travelled across continents for football’s biggest tournament. 

Mike Ritter, 36, from London, said his experience of the tournament in Qatar has been better than expected although joked the ‘football has been worse’ after watching England’s 0-0 draw with USA.

Mr Ritter, who is attending his fourth World Cup and arrived on a shuttle flight from Dubai, said: ‘We landed at 10am this morning and fly back at seven tomorrow morning and between 3am and 7am there’s not a lot to do, but hopefully it’s a good result and we don’t really care.’

On what England boss Gareth Southgate should do against Wales, Mr Ritter replied: ‘Play Phil Foden. He should have come on at half-time against the States, so I think it’s important he gets a game today.’

His friend James Vincent, 36, and living in Dubai, said the long days for the shuttle flights to Qatar left him feeling ‘pretty knackered’, adding: ‘Hopefully it’ll be worthwhile this time.’

Mr Vincent said of the trips: ‘Our flights today and last week were all Wales fans so we’ve been a bit outnumbered, they’re OK, a good laugh, they’re on their best behaviour, at least for now.’

On his prediction for the Wales game, Mr Vincent said: ‘I hope to see an England win maybe 2-0, 3-0 will be great, as long as we don’t lose, I’ll be happy.’

England fan Mick Martin, 62, from Aylesbury, said Wales are a ‘wounded animal’ but added: ‘We should be good enough. If we’re not good enough to beat Wales or get a good result against Wales we really shouldn’t be, should we?’

Mr Martin said the trip to Qatar has been ‘beyond our expectations’, also saying: ‘It’s great to have all the different supporters in one city, which makes it a bit chaotic, we can find our beers when want to, watch the games very easily, we’ve got nothing to worry about.’

Speaking in the Red Lion pub in Doha, Mr Martin said of England’s chances at the tournament: ‘We’re positive, we’re very optimistic – we’re deluded optimists, we’re stupid idiots really, it’s a rollercoaster but we always hope that we’re going to win and expect we’re going to win, but we’re not too down if we don’t.’

Alistair Banham, 67, from Buckinghamshire, added: ‘We got here knowing it’d be different to other World Cups and we adjusted to that and it has exceeded my expectations and it’s been really, really good – great fans, camaraderie, no trouble, you can find a beer, get to the grounds.’

His first World Cup was Germany in 2006, adding on Qatar: ‘It’s a different atmosphere, it’s been really good fun, you adjust to the environment and what you have to do is respect the local country.’

Andrew Doyle, from Norwich, added he worries Gareth Southgate will set England up to play for a draw against Wales, adding: ‘We want to attack, win the game, be positive, get the momentum going for the next round because those games you have to win.’

England fan Chris Weight (right) and Wales fan Chris Thomas (left) enjoy a friendly drink together in the Red Lion bar in Doha

Friends Len Williams, known as Taffy, and Phil Shone, enjoy a bit of banter at the ‘last pub in England’, the Brewery Arms in Saltney, ahead of the Wales v England game

‘The last pub in England’ – the Brewery Arms in Saltney, Chester

A quiet A483 outside Chester before tonight’s clash between England and Wales at the World Cup

Windsor town centre was deserted this morning ahead of tonight’s huge World Cup clash

Empty roads in the village of Ruabon in Wales before tonight’s clash between England and Wales at the World Cup

Steven Williams (centre) and Lee Holloway (right) proudly hold a Welsh flag in the Red Lion in Doha ahead of the big match. Wales will need to win the match and hope for a good result when Iran play the US if they are going to progress

England and Wales fans together in Doha ahead of the big match tonight where millions will watch from home

‘It’s coming home!’: These Three Lions fans are gearing up for tonight’s clash between England and Wales in Doha

But there’s plenty of support, too, for Wales which suffered a heartbreaking injury-time defeat to Iran last week. Pictured are fans in Doha on Tuesday morning

This year’s World Cup is the first appearance Wales have made at the tournament since 1958. Pictured are some of the supporters who have flown into Qatar to cheer on the Welsh side

Back home, the Kirby Estate in Bermondsey, south east London, was completely covered in dozens of St George’s Cross flags. 

Meanwhile, cute footage shows a pride of lions demonstrating affection for their namesake England football team.

One lioness, which lives at Knowsley Safari in Merseyside, was captured cradling a box painted with the St George’s cross after knocking away others featuring England’s Group B rivals.

But the apex predators also seemed a little ‘peed off’ at England’s draw against the US on Friday, with another big cat urinating on the American flag.

A spokesperson for the park said: ‘The lions at Knowsley Safari in Merseyside have got World Cup fever.

‘They’re proudly following the Lions in Group B, keeping a close eye on Wales and Iran, but they’re a bit peed off with Friday night’s England/USA performance.

‘The pride male found it laughable. Hopefully, England’s lions can be as dangerous in and around the box as these big cats tonight.’