Pack out pubs, break out BBQ - and call in sick on Monday: England fans share plans for Euros final on Sunday with beer and pizza sales set to soar by 250% as 15,000 head to huge screening at O2 and Tesco closes early for staff to watch game

Britons are preparing for a massive weekend as they plan to pack out pubs, attend screenings or get the barbecue out to watch England in the Euro 2024 final.

The Three Lions will play Spain on Sunday in Berlin in an 8pm kick-off with millions of supporters set to watch the match back home with friends and family.

The biggest screening is set to be at The O2, where up to 15,000 fans will be able to cheer on England in an event organised by London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Other fan parks, pubs and bars across the country will also be broadcasting the game as hospitality businesses aim to cash in on the mounting excitement.

Tesco's 1,800 Express stores will shut at 7.30pm instead of the usual 10pm or 11pm to allow staff to watch the final and still receive their normal pay for those hours.

And Iceland said beer sales are expected to soar 250 per cent in the next 72 hours with pizza and curry sales up 150 per cent amid a three-day shopping splurge. 

The match will be broadcast on both BBC One, with coverage from 7pm, and ITV1, with coverage from 6.30pm. There will also be radio commentary on BBC 5 Live.

Some fans are even expecting to call in sick, with one telling BBC Radio Nottingham last night: 'No one's going to work on Monday, we're all going to get s*** faced.'

It comes after England beat the Netherlands 2-1 in a dramatic semi-final in Dortmund last night which saw Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins score the winner in the 90th minute.

It means Gareth Southgate's team, who finished as runners-up at Euro 2020, are going to their second successive European Championship final.

No English men's team has made it to a major final on foreign soil before and now they have the chance to become European champions for the first time.

Prince William, as president of the Football Association, is expected to be in the stands on Sunday – but this is yet to be confirmed by Kensington Palace.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was able to watch some of the semi-final while attending a Nato summit in Washington DC, has confirmed he will be at the Olympiastadion Berlin on Sunday.

Among the millions watching back in England will be those at The O2, where Mr Khan has announced a watch event on a giant 16m (52ft) screen.

Fans are being invited to arrive from 6pm to enjoy pre-match entertainment and tickets are set to be allocated via a ballot on City Hall's website.

This will open at 10am today and close tomorrow at 9am. Successful entrants will be notified via email by midday tomorrow to secure up to four tickets.

Mr Khan said: 'I am so proud of what this team have achieved in reaching another major final. I'm delighted that we can now invite 15,000 England fans to The O2 on Sunday night for what we all hope will be a night of great drama and celebration.

'For those who can't make it to The O2, there will be a plethora of pubs, clubs, bars and other hospitality venues across London receiving a welcome economic boost and generating a fantastic atmosphere by showing the match.

'We all recall the heartache of Wembley three years ago but being a football fan requires eternal optimism and we now stand ready once again to roar on the Three Lions as they look to finish the job against Spain. Come on England!'

The ballot is open to those aged 18 or over. Children are allowed to attend the screening but must be accompanied by a 'responsible adult' – and the standing area is for over 16s only.

Fans are encouraged to wear England shirts but no other football shirts will be permitted, which the Mayor's office said was 'standard procedure at screenings such as this'.

Steve Sayer, general manager at The O2, added: 'We're thrilled to be welcoming England fans to The O2 this Sunday to cheer on the Three Lions.

'It's going to be an incredible atmosphere with up to 15,000 fans in the arena, and hopefully a memorable night of celebrations. It's coming home!'

Other events planned in London for the final include an open-air screening for 1,000 people at the Street Food Garden in Battersea Park, which will be an 18+ ticketed event with entrance from 6.30pm.

The popular Boxpark venues will also be showing the game - while other cities have events such as in Manchester at the Albert Hall music venue.

Almost 8,000 P&O Cruises guests watched the match last night. Throughout Europe across seven ships, guests flocked to the theatres, bars and Arvia’s SkyDome to watch the game. The final will also be shown onboard P&O Cruises fleet on Sunday. 

Sunday's event at The O2 was organised after Mr Khan was criticised for failing to arrange a fan zone – or even just a big screen – for the semi-final.

Speaking about the lack of event for last night, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Tory MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, said the Labour mayor 'should be more generous', adding: 'Other cities have big screens for events like this which bring the community together. The mayor is being a killjoy.'

The most recent Euros, delayed by a year to 2021 due to Covid-19, saw the tournament staged across Europe, with Wembley hosting the final.

The game, won by Italy on penalties against England, was marred by violence when 2,000 ticketless fans stormed the stadium. 

London provided a fan zone in Trafalgar Square and a 'football village' by Tower Bridge, both screening matches. 

Meanwhile, the King congratulated the England men's football team on reaching the final - but has urged them to avoid more last-minute drama.

In a message to Southgate's side, Charles sent the players the royal family's 'very best wishes' and 'warmest congratulations'.

But the King quipped about the recent drama endured by England fans, including a last-gasp equaliser in the second round against Slovakia and a penalty triumph against Switzerland in the quarter-final, asking them to watch out for the nation's blood pressure in the final.

He said: 'My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the Uefa European Championship - and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday's match. 

'If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation's collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated! Good luck, England.'

It comes after more drama in the semi-final after Watkins scored a 90th-minute winner to send them through.

The Three Lions fell behind after seven minutes to a Xavi Simons strike but a controversial Harry Kane penalty, awarded by VAR, brought the scores level 10 minutes later.

The Prince of Wales, who is a Villa fan, also congratulated England and singled out Watkins for praise in a message on social media.

He said: 'What a beauty, Ollie! Congratulations England! #EURO2024 Finalists.'