England step into a cauldron in Nizhny Novgorod to face Panama at World Cup

As many as 25million England fans will settle down in pubs, bars and living rooms today to watch Gareth Southgate’s side take on Panama in their second World Cup fixture. 

Sales of beer, barbecues and ice cream have rocketed and the National Grid is expected to spike at half time as England fans settle down for a lunchtime kick-off on a warm Sunday afternoon in the UK, with pubs predicting the ‘biggest ever’ Sunday drinking session.  

And England are stepping into a cauldron in Nizhny Novgorod too where temperatures are set to reach 86F (30C) when Harry Kane leads the team out. 

England can reach the knockout stage with a game to spare if they follow up their dramatic win against Tunisia with another victory in Group G on Sunday. 

England fans hold up a flag as they arrive early at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium for today’s World Cup match with Panama

England fans enjoy the pre-match atmosphere in Nizhny Novgorod ahead of today's Group G match against Panama

England fans enjoy the pre-match atmosphere in Nizhny Novgorod ahead of today’s Group G match against Panama

An England fan with the St George's Cross patterned into his hair carries a flag in Nizhny Novgorod today 

An England fan with the St George’s Cross patterned into his hair carries a flag in Nizhny Novgorod today 

England fans show their support outside the Nizhny Novgorod stadium ahead of Sunday afternoon's Group G fixture

England fans show their support outside the Nizhny Novgorod stadium ahead of Sunday afternoon’s Group G fixture

The 2-1 win in their opening fixture on Monday was the most-watched TV programme of the year so far, pulling in 18.3million viewers on the BBC One coverage. 

A further three million watched the game online via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport, making it the highest ever live viewing for any BBC programme online.

The audience eclipsed that of last month’s royal wedding which attracted a peak audience of 18million on UK channels. 

Captain Harry Kane and his team were given special medical advice on hydration to cope with the elements inside the 45,000-seater stadium.

Around 2,500 England fans are likely to be in the stadium cheering on the team. 

Banker Ed Forster, 27, from Newcastle, said: ‘We’ll smash Panama and keep going in this World Cup. Our young team is fearless. 

‘It’s great to be here. England fans have been in fine voice but it’s a shame many of us didn’t bring our England shirts on police advice as we were told there could be trouble.’

The chairman of the Football Association has said he is ‘sad’ the numbers of England fans in Russia for the World Cup is lower than previous tournaments.

Greg Clarke said he had been ‘surprised’ by the open-arms welcome of the Russian people and the organisation of the tournament.

A leading football fan group, the Football Supporters’ Federation, said earlier this week the turnout for England 2-1 win over Tunisia was possibly the lowest for 30 years.

Mr Clarke said: ‘I am sad that there aren’t more English people here sharing this wonderful football festival because it has surprised me.

‘The efficiency, the welcome, just the warmth of the Russian people has really, really, impressed me. And I just wish more people had a chance to experience it first-hand.’  

England fans hold up flags as they prepare to watch Gareth Southgate's side take on Panama in a Sunday afternoon fixture

England fans hold up flags as they prepare to watch Gareth Southgate’s side take on Panama in a Sunday afternoon fixture

England fans gather outside the stadium in Nizhny Novgorod before Gareth Southgate's side take on Panama 

England fans gather outside the stadium in Nizhny Novgorod before Gareth Southgate’s side take on Panama 

Panama fans also flocked to Nizhny Novgorod's stadium to watch their side take on England at the World Cup on Sunday

Panama fans also flocked to Nizhny Novgorod’s stadium to watch their side take on England at the World Cup on Sunday

England fans hold drinks as they prepare to watch their side take on Panama in their second Group G fixture on Sunday 

England fans hold drinks as they prepare to watch their side take on Panama in their second Group G fixture on Sunday 

Football fans with flags for Mansfield and Huddersfield take to the streets of Nizhny Novgorod ahead of England's game today

Football fans with flags for Mansfield and Huddersfield take to the streets of Nizhny Novgorod ahead of England’s game today

Russian police watch on as England fans take to the streets of Nizhny Novgorod before Sunday's clash with Panama 

Russian police watch on as England fans take to the streets of Nizhny Novgorod before Sunday’s clash with Panama 

A graph showing the biggest television audiences for England World Cup matches, showing the most watched was West Germany v England in 1990, shown on both BBC One and ITV

A graph showing the biggest television audiences for England World Cup matches, showing the most watched was West Germany v England in 1990, shown on both BBC One and ITV

England’s most-watched World Cup match of all time was their semi-final against West Germany in 1990, when 25.2million people saw Bobby Robson’s team beaten on penalties. 

Much of the build-up has revolved around Southgate’s starting side after the publication of pictures of assistant Steve Holland’s training notes on Thursday. 

Gareth Southgate has ruled Dele Alli out of contention to face a Panama side who calmly revealed their own line-up.

Alli looks set to be replaced in the starting line-up by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while all eyes will be on the team sheet to see whether Marcus Rashford replaces Raheem Sterling.

Harry Kane’s two goals, including an injury-time header, saw off Tunisia in the Three Lions’ opening fixture in Volgograd last Monday. 

England’s Group G rivals Belgium put on an impressive display on Saturday, scoring five against Tunisia to strengthen their lead at the top of the group. 

Southgate’s team will face the Belgian line-up in their final group match on Thursday evening in a match which could decide who takes top spot.  

Deputy British Ambassador to Russia, Lindsay Skoll, defended the Government’s travel advice from accusations of ‘scaremongering’.

The Foreign Office had warned ‘heightened’ tensions between the UK and the Kremlin in the wake of the poisoning of Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury could mean supporters faced ‘anti-British sentiment or harassment’.

But Ms Skoll said: ‘I think the advice has been accurate and what I can see already in Nizhny is more than Volgograd and momentum is building on to Kaliningrad as well.’  



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