David Beckham played host to Thomas Tuchel's England squad at his Inter Miami training base on Friday, as the Three Lions made their final preparations for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Norway – a match one veteran observer has called the best England performance since 1966.
Beckham’s sons Romeo and Cruz were spotted watching training, a day before England face Norway at a tournament that kicked off on 11 June in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium and will conclude with the final on 19 July at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. The former England captain, who owns Inter Miami, welcomed Harry Kane and his teammates to the club's facilities for a light session before the 10pm UK kick-off.
“Beckham hosts England at Inter Miami base before Norway quarter-final; pubs open until 2am for 10pm kick-off.”
Back home, pubs across London are bracing for a flood of supporters, with venues allowed to stay open until 2am now that England have reached the knockout stages. The Queens Head in East London is taking walk-ins, while the Long Arm Brewery & Tap Room at Montcalm Royal London House in Finsbury Square has been screening all England matches. In Peckham, the Bussey Building offers a rooftop screening with city views, and Arcade venues in Battersea Power Station, Covent Garden and Tottenham Court Road are serving curries, pizzas and burgers alongside giant screens. Tables are filling up fast, but many pubs have standing areas.
The New Statesman’s correspondent captured the mood: “Energy and positive play at last, from the whole team: the best I’ve seen since, er… let me think… 1966. Hurrah.” The crowds have been “brilliant”, they wrote, noting families with young children and even babes in arms at matches – “surely they haven’t carted their kids 10,000 miles on planes?”
England’s quarter-final against Norway is the latest test for Tuchel’s side, who edged past Mexico in the previous round. With Beckham’s star power and a nation tuned in, Saturday night promises both high drama on the pitch and packed pubs from Finsbury to Peckham.
