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Millions will pack out pubs and sofas for the ‘Battle of Britain’ tonight when England play Wales at the World Cup as bosses were warned not to let the workplace banter between the two tribes go too far and Welsh pubs banned the English.
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.
Around 10,000 English and Welsh fans are in Qatar for the match and they enjoyed a raucous night in Doha ahead of the crunch game. The beer and wine will be flowing at home with the nation already splashing out £215million on booze for the game.
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. One Cardiff pub has banned all England fans.
England and Wales fans together in Doha ahead of the big match tonight
Llanymynech 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.
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.
Families, friendships and even marriages will be split in Llanymynech at 7pm when the ‘Battle of Britain’ kicks off in Doha at 7pm.
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.’
A Welsh pub has banned English fans from watching the crunch World Cup fixture between Wales and England on Tuesday night.
O’Neill’s, located on the corner of St Mary Street and Wood Street in central Cardiff, has taken the decision due to the expected ‘extreme levels of passion and support’ that will be displayed during the game, which represents the two countries’ first ever meeting at a football World Cup.
England 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.
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, say they want to create a ‘safe atmosphere’ for Wales fans, so are therefore banning English supporters from entering.
A spokesperson for the pub confirmed: ‘For the safety and comfort of all our team and guests, we have taken the decision to be a ‘Home Fan Zone’ tomorrow evening. This means we will only be allowing supporters of the Welsh team into the business.
‘The extreme levels of passion and support on show for this particular game are like nothing we have ever seen before, and we want everyone to enjoy it in a safe and friendly atmosphere. Many thanks for your understanding, and we look forwards to watching a great game. Cymru am Byth!’
England fans in Doha before tonight’s grudge match
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.
Around 10,000 English and Welsh fans are in Qatar for the match and they enjoyed a raucous night in Doha ahead of the crunch game. The beer and wine will be flowing at home with the nation already splashing out £215million on booze for the game.
Bars and clubs are also expected to be packed for the game, with pubs saying they expect Tuesday takings to be up 40 per cent tonight.
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.
Llanymynech is a village divided, half is in Wales and half in England
Families in the village have been split by the match
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 Wirld Cup and they’ll be going home before we are.’
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’
England and Wales fans number around 10,000 in Doha. Millions will be watching at home
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.
England and Wales meet at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium for their final group B fixture, dubbed the ‘Battle of Britain’, with hoards of supporters having made the trip and millions more watching back home.
The Three Lions currently top the group and need just a point to guarantee their progress to the knockout stages while Wales must win and hope for a favourable result between Iran and the USA.
If old rivalries are expected to be displayed on the pitch, the tension was not reflected among the bar’s patrons as laughing, music and popular chants from the characteristically vocal Wales fans rang out.
Fans outside of Doha are also gearing up to watch the all-important showdown.
The Sun reported that an estimated £215million will be spent at home by fans watching the game.
Pubs will get a £75million boost and the rest will be spent in supermarkets as people stock up snack cupboards and drink cabinets.
But despite the jovial atmosphere at the Red Lion, the gravity of the impending match was not forgotten – particularly among the Welsh contingent.
England fan Chris Weight (right) and Wales fan Chris Thomas (left) enjoy a friendly drink together in the Red Lion bar in Doha
Among the numbers on the heaving floor was new arrival Steven Williams, from Rhydyfelin in Pontypridd, South Wales, who had booked a ticket after seeing Wales’ poor performance in the last two games.
‘A lot of people put us down after the last game but I thought I have to go out there – I’m here flying the flag for the Welsh,’ the 47-year-old said.
‘I’d like to come out with a win tomorrow, but that almost doesn’t matter as much as the statement we’re making here in Qatar.
‘We’ve waited 64 years for this and we’re here in the bars, the restaurants, in the Souq and everywhere in between making our presence known.’
For others, including Lee Holloway, 43, from Pontypridd, the result matters more.
He said: ‘I just want us to go home with pride, but right now we can’t do that.
‘I think when we play against out old enemies we turn up.
‘But it’s going to be a tough game, there’s no doubt about that. If the boys turn up we might get a 1-0, but that might not be enough.’
Isaac Thomas, a 23-year-old teacher from Swansea, has travelled alone to Qatar – not wanting to miss the moment to see Wales in a World Cup – and said he had so far had a ‘brilliant experience’.
‘It’s a beautiful place and I’ve met so many friendly people, it’s nothing like it was portrayed in the media,’ Mr Thomas said.
‘The only disappointing thing has been the football.’
‘That and the price of a pint – but that hasn’t stopped us,’ he joked.
‘But the players just haven’t shown up yet. So I hope and pray for a win tomorrow and a draw in the Iran v USA game.’
Thomas Elward, 55, from Gilfach Goch, revealed he had been journeying to Wales away matches since he was 13 years old, and said he was ‘confident’ Wales would defeat England.
‘I’m confident we’re going to win, but it doesn’t matter if we lose because we support Wales, that makes us winners,’ he said.
The English fans dotted throughout the place seemed more calm, and appeared to be looking ahead beyond the group stages – confident they would qualify.
William Threlfall, 56, who lives in Cambridge and has been following England home and away for 30 years, described his experience in Qatar as ‘amazing’ and predicted a 2-0 England win.
He added: ‘Tournament football starts when you are through the group games, we will criticise Gareth Southgate then (if needed).’
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
Supporters watch matches from the Red Lion bar in Doha, were fans can purchase alcoholic drinks
His friend Chris Finch, 50, from Nottinghamshire, added: ‘We’re never going to win anything being risk averse.’
Mr Finch believes England boss Southgate has adopted the ‘safe option’, noting: ‘It will work until we play someone good in the quarters and we will be off home.’
Brothers Simon and John Hatter, from Nottingham, said they had arrived in Qatar ahead of the Wales game and planned to stay for as long as England remain in the tournament.
Simon, 52, and John, 57, hope to see Jack Grealish start – with the pair having a soft spot for the Manchester City attacker due to a loan spell at their team Notts County earlier in his career.
Simon said: ‘I think England will win against Wales, get through the group and last 16, and it will be harder in the quarter finals – France look good.’
He added on Tuesday’s game: ‘I reckon 3-1 England.’
Sports minister Stuart Andrew has said he will wear the rainbow-coloured armband prohibited by Fifa when he attends the game.
The Conservative frontbencher, who is gay, said it was ‘really unfair’ that football’s governing body prevented the captains of England and Wales donning the OneLove anti-discrimination armband at the 11th hour.
Revellers enjoyed the rooftop bar in Doha with views across the bay. Fans at home are expected to spend £215million on snacks and drinks ahead of the home nations crunch match
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said it was ‘really unfair’ that England players not been allowed to wear ‘One Love’ armbands
Wales also announced that winger Dan James had gifted tickets to volunteers at their World Cup training base for the game.
Elsewhere, Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the UK’s football policing lead, said that there had been no arrests or incidents in the opening nine days of the tournament and praised England and Wales fans for their ‘exemplary’ behaviour.
He said the lack of trouble at the Qatar World Cup, which he believed was in large part due to alcohol being less available, was a sign that ministers should resist calls to ease restrictions on drinking in UK football grounds.
It comes as police in Tenerife say they will launch a major security operation to prevent any possible violence during the England and Wales game.
Video footage emerged of a brawl outside bars on the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands on Friday evening, with people wearing England and Wales shirts involved.
UK police fear people prevented from travelling to Qatar for the World Cup may have been involved in the incident in Tenerife, but added they have yet to confirm this.
England v Wales: The history of the grudge match
England and Wales first played each other in an international friendly in January 1879.
Since then, the Three Lions have won 68 matches against the Dragons, drawn 21 and lost 14.
The last time England met Wales on the football pitch was in October 2020. England won 3-0 in the international friendly.
The last time Wales came out on top of a home nations match against England was in 1984, when they won 1-0 after Mark Hughes got one past goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
The last time Wales beat England was in 1984. Welsh fans are hoping for a surprise victory this evening to keep them in the tournament
The last ten England-Wales matches:
20 May, 1981 England v Wales 0-0 British Home Championship: DRAW
27 Apr, 1982 Wales v England 0-1 British Home Championship: ENGLAND WIN
23 Feb, 1983 England v Wales 2-1 British Home Championship: ENGLAND WIN
02 May, 1984 Wales v England 1-0 British Home Championship: WALES WIN
09 Oct, 2004 England v Wales 2-0 FIFA World Cup: ENGLAND WIN
3 Sep, 2005 Wales v England 0-1 FIFA World Cup: ENGLAND WIN
26 Mar, 2011 Wales v England 0-2 UEFA European Championship: ENGLAND WIN
06 Sep, 2011 England v Wales 1-0 UEFA European Championship: ENGLAND WIN
16 Jun, 2016 England v Wales 2-1 UEFA European Championship: ENGLAND WIN
8 Oct, 2020 England v Wales 3-0 International Friendly: ENGLAND WIN
Source: 11v11
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