England fans are leaving work early this afternoon as World Cup fever grips the nation with millions heading to the pub for the opening game.
Rush hour chaos is expected to begin earlier than usual as supporters race home or out to their local to watch the clash with Tunisia that kicks off at 7pm.
Experts predicted pubs and other venues will be packed out as fans enjoy the sunshine and cheer on the Three Lions tonight.
They estimate Britons will drink 14million extra pints, with the British Beer and Pub Association estimating it will bring a £42million boost to the economy.
England fans Ireen and Harry from Norwich are in Volgograd for tonight’s game
The AA said that the rush hour will begin ‘much earlier’ with the roads and rail networks quieter than usual between 7pm and 9pm
Only 2,500 fans have travelled to the Russian city of Volgograd for tonight’s Group G clash. And for those that stayed at home they prepared to down tools early to get a good viewing spot.
‘One Fan said on Twitter: ‘Work done. Got my beers for this evening. Can’t believe I think we are gunna win the World Cup, Football’s coming home.
And Adammearns wrote: ‘Cracking some beers and getting ready for the rollercoaster ride. Lads are young but prepared and ready. All we ask is somethng to be proud of #England.
Supporter Marc wrote: ‘Work done. Now get me in my England shirt to the pub ready for the game! #Three Lions’
England fans took to Twitter as they signed off for the day and headed home or to the pub to watch the game
Another posted a tweet of three lion bars, an England flag, a shirt and a bottle of beer and wrote: ‘All set for the game!!’
Former England star Wayne Rooney also tweeted his support saying: Can’t wait for kick off later and cheering the lads on. Good luck England.’
Nerves were also building among Three Lion’s fanatics as they prepare for England’s opening game, four years after they were knocked out in the group stages in Brazil.
One said: ‘Nerves kicking in here, come on England!!
Another wrote: ‘I’m getting the nerves I only get when England are playing a tournament. Just imagine if we had a similar run to 1990 or 96, the whole country bouncing and behind the team
England fans arrive have started to arrive at FanFest in Volgograd ahead of England’s opening game of the 2018 Russia World Cup
Russian fans mingle with England supporters, with one holding the England flag aloft in the Volgograd fan zone
England fans in Volgograd, with some were enjoying the beer at the Harat’s Pub in the historic Russian city
Around 3,000 Tunisia fans will outnumber the Three Lions support in the 45,568-capacity stadium, but fan Pete Courts vowed: ‘We’ll make as much noise as 50,000.’
Security is tight in the city, with the few England fans that have made the journey vowing to make it an atmosphere to remember.
Supermarkets in the city have also banned the sales of alcohol in glass bottles as authorities attempt to clampdown on any outbreak of violence ahead of kick off.
Photos of shop shelves showed the entire alcohol aisle taped off.
Fans told of their nerves ahead of the opening Group G clash tonight at 7pm, that comes four years after England were knocked out at the group stages in Brazil
The AA said that the rush hour will begin ‘much earlier’ with the roads and rail networks quieter than usual between 7pm and 9pm.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA told The Sun: ‘We will see the usual rush-hour conditions much earlier in the day as people try to get a good spot.
‘The fixture list has been quite kind, but people who usually finish at 5pm or 6pm will create a spike in traffic as they down-tools early.
‘We anticipate the roads will be quiet between 7pm and 9pm because most people will be glued to game.’
Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), told the paper: ‘We’ve been helped by the very convenient kick-off time.
‘We predict that many more people will go to the pub because they might not make it home in time for the game.
It means lots of people will also grab some dinner at the pub, giving an extra boost to our industry.
‘Pubs are the best place to watch football anyway, and lots of places which don’t normally show it will be making special arrangements for the World Cup.
The BBPA said that the pub will be a big winner from the kick off times for the England group games, with the game against Belgium also after work, and Panama at the weekend.
Ms Simmonds added: ‘When it comes to watching England at the World Cup, only being at the game itself can compare with being in the pub.
‘Millions of England fans will be going to the pub to cheer on the team with their friends, which is both great for the local pub and great for the England team.
Let’s hope the England team do us proud!’
According to the Football Supporters’ Federation, just 2,100 tickets were sold to England fans for the opening game.
In comparison, 5,000 England fans travelled to Manaus for the opening match of the Brazil 2014 tournament.
In 2010, more than 7,000 supporters went to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, South Africa, to watch their side’s opening World Cup clash.
And 50,000 travelled to Frankfurt in 2006 for England’s match against Paraguay. Yesterday afternoon there were just a few England fans milling around Volgograd’s city centre. Despite the tensions, England fans in Volgograd, which is 560 miles south of Moscow, last night said they were looking forward to the tournament.
England manager Gareth Southgate has paid tribute to the fans, saying: ‘There’s been a lot of stories leading into the tournament that have put people off coming.
‘We’re really grateful for the people who are travelling, it’s a huge lift for us to see England fans in the stadium.’
Retired taxi firm owner Tom Trueman is attending his sixth World Cup having seen Bobby Moore lift the trophy at Wembley in 1966, and said he had ‘no second thoughts’ about it.
Warehouse manager Paul Elliott, 46, from Coventry, West Midlands – which is twinned with Volgograd – said: ‘People said we were mad to come here with the threat of trouble.
‘But I’m here with a beer in my hand and a smile on my face.’
Nobby Robb, 58, from Liskeard, Cornwall, told the Daily Mirror he has a ticket for every England game, all the way to the final if they should make it.
‘I’ve booked flights, accommodation, and spent 1,500 dollars on the tickets alone,’ he said. ‘I will be here as long as England are here.’