England fans fill Benidorm bars seven hours before World Cup semi-final against Argentina

England fans were already deep into their pre-match rituals in Benidorm on Tuesday, with bars filling up as early as 2pm local time — a full seven hours before Thomas Tuchel’s side face Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. Thousands of supporters are expected to converge on the stretch of bars and restaurants locals have nicknamed ‘England Square’, drawn by the prospect of seeing England reach their first World Cup final since 1966.

At Uncle Ted’s British Pub, fans were sinking pints in 40-degree heat and trading score predictions. Gary Carr, from Leeds, was measured in his optimism: “I think we’ll win 2-1. This is my first lager of the day. I’ll take a break, but I’ll be back at tea time to get my seat.”

Stoke City fan Anthony Rathbone was rather further into his afternoon. Showing off his England tattoo, he laughed: “I’ve been here since midday, it’s not my first. I might have a nap later, but if I hold up I’ll keep going.” He predicted a 3-1 England win, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Nico O’Reilly on the scoresheet.

For friends Liam Allum, Ricky Cropper and Sean Anderson, the trip carried extra significance — Sean was celebrating his 30th birthday and the group had deliberately booked their holiday around England’s potential progress. “We all worked our holidays around it,” Sean said. “It’s a double bubble.”

Not everyone was brimming with confidence. Liam admitted: “I’ve a horrible feeling that things will go Argentina’s way again, but I hope not” — predicting a 2-2 draw followed by a penalty shootout. Sean backed England 2-0, while Ricky fancied a nervy 1-0.

Sean, reflecting on the mood compared to England’s Euro 2024 campaign, was bullish: “I’m more confident than I was in the Euros. I think we’ve got the edge to get it over the line.”

Benidorm Town Council confirmed that both local and national police will reinforce afternoon and night-time shifts across the resort for the duration of the tournament, with an increased presence expected on the streets ahead of kick-off.