England fans have revealed how nervous they are ahead of tonight’s crucial Euros clash against Slovenia.
Thousands of people across the country have ditched work early to find a TV in preparation for this evening’s 8pm kickoff.
But while many have soaked up today’s sun, with some pictured on Bournemouth beach adorning England flags, nerves seem to be settling in with kick-off soon approaching.
England supporter Andy Laurie, 48, said: ‘We are nervous. We want to see what the team line up is and see if Gareth has taken some of the online stick to heart or ignored it all. It should be a nice game.
‘I am feeling positive, yes but slightly apprehensive. They’ve been awful so far and yes I agree with Gary Lineker.
England fans react after Bukayo Saka’s disallowed goal in the first half of the match
Supporters pictured at The Big Shed at Trent Navigation in Nottingham
Fans have their hands on the head after England’s opener was disallowed
Footy fever has spread to Bournemouth beach as students from Southampton, all 18, cheer for England
Both Oscar (right) and George (left) are feeling ‘nervous’ and ‘apprehensive’ ahead of tonight’s game but Alfie (middle) is ‘confident’
England fan William (left) said he is ‘optimistic’ but there is a lot of pressure on the team to perform
‘Southgate has got enough for this tournament but after this I think he’s run his course. He’s too defensive, he’s too negative, he’s got to many attacking players he doesn’t know how to deal with.
‘We should go all the way in every tournament with the young player and the breed of players we have got right now. It needs a manager who is an attacking manager to bring out the best in these players.’
Sean Walter, 21, added: ‘I am confident but we definitely need to play better than the last few games. We need more goals but once we win the group we can have an easier round.
‘We haven’t done bad but our expectations going in were a lot higher. Based on our previous expectations we have played quite poorly.
‘I think Southgate can win us this tournament but after this he will go. The players have enough to win him this tournament for him then he will get sent off.’
Many fans across south London have predicted a resounding win tonight, however. At the London and Rye pub in Catford sports lovers were enjoying a pre-match pint before they cheered on the national team.
Lifelong fan Mick Fitzpatrick told how he hoped that England could do better than their last encounter against Denmark.
Mick, 55, who is unemployed, said: ‘I really hope that England can do better against Slovenia than they did against Denmark.
Sean Thomas (pictured) said he was confident of an England victory
From left to right, Mark Vince, Kevin Mitchell and Fred Wilson pictured in the pub ahead of kick-off
Sean Walter, 21, pictured front left with Sue Walter, 58, Roger Walter, 57, and Adam Burns, 20, from Essex
England fans Andy Laurie, 48, (left) pictured with Tom Hughes, 21, (right) in Box Park
Lifelong fan Mick Fitzpatrick told how he hoped that England could do better than their last encounter
‘We should do well but England have already qualified so they may lay back. I’m confident England will win. I say 2-1 England.
‘Whatever happens I don’t have to get up early tomorrow because I’m not working at the moment, so I’ll be having the day off!’
Sean Thomas said he was confident of an England victory. Sean, 52, who is unemployed, said: ‘I think England will charge it up and win this match. I think it will be 2-1 England.’
Veterinary nurse Mark Vince told how he was hoping for a resounding victory. Mark, 50, said: ‘England should surely win this. They’ve got to do better than they did against Denmark.
‘Whatever the outcome tonight I’ll be at work tomorrow, because it’s my business! I think it will be 3-1 England.’
Civil Servant Kevin Mitchell told he will enjoy the game. Kevin, 54, said: ‘I love football but I won’t get over excited. I predict it will be 2-0 England.’
Liverpool supporter Everton Green (pictured at the pub) is hoping for a big win
England fans have left work early to flock to the pub ahead of tonight’s crucial Euros match. Pictured: England fans last week
Teacher Fred Wilson, 64, added: ‘England will do better than they did against Denmark tonight, I’m sure of it.
‘But no matter what happens, I’ll be at work early tomorrow morning as usual. I think it will be 3-0 England.’
At the Watch House pub in Lewisham, England fans were eagerly awaiting kick-off.
Liverpool supporter Everton Green is hoping for a big win. Everton, 43, a bar worker, said: ‘I’m sure England will do well. They haven’t shown us their best yet.’
Lorry driver Jack Brown added: ‘I’m a boxing fan but I’m going to try to watch the match and cheer England on.’
Friends Shanie Wright, Joe Daniels, Mandy Saunders and Diane Whelan, are all up for the match – whoever is playing! Shanie, 50, a dog carer, asked: ‘Who are England playing?’
Joe, 48, said: ‘I know in my bones that England are going to win. It will be a great night. I reckon it will be 3-1 England.’
Mandy Saunders, 57, said: ‘England are going to take control early on and win 2-0.’
Diane, 54, added: ‘I think it will be a draw. 1-1.’
Drinkers in Bar Trend in Crowborough, East Sussex, were watching the game on a big screen by the bar and on a TV in the beer garden.
Caroline McWatt, 38, said: ‘I’m quite excited, I think I’m a bit a more optimistic of our chances than most.
‘I think Southgate will play it safe – knowing that a win sees us qualify as a group winners. But I’d like to think we’ll be more dangerous in the knock-out stages.
‘I think it’ll be 2-0 to England tonight and I think we’ll make the quarters or semi-finals. Hopefully, we’ll go even further.’
Caroline McWatt has said: ‘I think Southgate will play it safe – knowing that a win sees us qualify as a group winners’
Stuart Cox has predicted that the score will be 3-0 to England tonight
Stephen McManus, pictured, said: ‘England are criticised by people with too high expectations’
Site manager Stuart Cox, 50, from Frant, East Sussex, was in equally buyout mood.
Having just come back from Frankfurt, where England played Denmark, he told MailOnline: ‘I think it’s going to be 3-0 to England, I think tonight will be more comfortable than the other games, especially as we’re already through.
‘There’s no east game in international football but we should be beating a nation of two or three million.
‘There’s been a negative vibe around England after the game against Denmark. But if we were that bad we’d have lost. Simple as that.
‘We didn’t, we drew against a side that pushed us all the way during the last Euros semi-final.
‘Southgate won’t take the buffers off but I’d like to see some changes such as Bellingham moved back next to Rice, Foden in the middle and Gallagher out on the left.’
Sunderland fan Stephen McManus, 57, from Crowborough said: ‘England are criticised by people with too high expectations.
‘I think we need to move the ball quicker through the ranks, I think that’s helped by Connor Gallagher starting and that style suits Phil Foden better.
‘The important thing is that we’ve gotten out of the group – and it doesn’t matter how ugly we do it.
‘I’d rather England play their best game in a one-on-one knock-out game.
‘We’ve got the players to go far and the manager who has got us to a World Cup semi-final and a Euros final. People still think fondly of Sir Bobby Robson – why not Southgate?
‘No team has stamped their authority on the tournament yet. Germany had a good first game against an over excited Scotland, the Netherlands have just been beaten, France haven’t won all their games and Spain, though they have all nine-points, are a team in transition.
‘There was a question mark over our defence coming into this tournament but so far we’ve only conceded once – to a wonderful strike that not many keepers would have saved. The defence I think has been quite solid.
‘I look to the World Cup winning Italy team of 2006 who scraped through their group and saved their best game for the semi-final to beat Germany on home soil.
‘Sometimes you need to build up steam to get going.’