UK grinding to halt as millions watch match

Britain was expected to down tools at lunchtime today as millions of fans abandon work to watch England’s crucial World Cup match against historic rivals Argentina.

Fans are hoping England will avenge past disappointments against the South American side and end a 22-year win-less run against one of the tournament’s top sides.

The prospect of the clash has brought the nation to a fever pitch of excitement, with factories expected to stop production while offices will resemble football terraces.

Many British firms are hiring TVs or huge screens and laying on free food for staff. Giant screens will be erected in many city centres, while office canteens and factory rest rooms will be filled with football fans glued to the game.

Even the Royal Family were getting behind the team. The Queen, although not planning to watch the game, is expected to be kept up to date with the score.

Prince William and his brother Prince Harry are expected to watch from home at Highgrove, Gloucestershire.

And the Duke of York, who is president of the Football Association, will watch the match from Craigowan Lodge, on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

Ticketless fans in Japan were facing the prospect of watching the action on giant screens, as touts are charging hundreds of euros for tickets.

A screen for England fans was being built at the 1,400 capacity Citizens’ Hall concert venue in Sapporo.

Some 7,000 officers will be on duty in the city, including 1,400 from other areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, and will carry netguns which catch hooligans in large nets and individual water cannons in case of trouble.

‘‘We are planning to prevent anything happening,’’ police spokesman Shinichi Konishi said.

‘‘There have been no big problems since the World Cup started, so I hope nothing happens.’’

No alcohol restrictions have been put in place around the city but some shops, bars and restaurants have chosen to shut ahead of the game over fears of violence.

Meanwhile the 5,000 Argentinian nationals registered in the UK were expected to gather in restaurants and bars up and down the country to watch the big match on television.

The bad blood between England and Argentina stems from an infamously violent match at Wembley during the 1966 World Cup, which England won.

It also includes the 1986 ‘‘Hand of God’’ goal, the Beckham sending off, the nerve-racking penalty shoot-out at France 98 and, of course, the Falklands Conflict.

Beckham is expected to be a target for fouls during the game, with the odds of him going the whole match without a single foul against him a long shot at 100-1.

Bookies have been counting on a bumper day with more bets expected in the build-up than on any other football match - some €16m.

They could be facing a massive payout after one English gambler from the West Country had a £1,000 (€1300) treble for England to draw 1-1 with Sweden.

He now has £6,000 (€7800) going forward on England to beat Argentina 2-1 and if that results comes off, the punter will have £66,000 (€90,000) riding on the national side to beat Nigeria 4-1 in their final match.

A successful prediction would see him win £1.3m (€2.1m) and become the world’s first-ever football betting millionaire.

It also emerged that sales of Argentinian wine had plummeted in England ahead of the match.

Safeway said sales had fallen 16% in England over the past 48 hours - although they had risen 22% in Scotland.