Thousands are expected to watch the game on big screens in city and town centres, and millions will watch at home.

Pubs are expecting fans to fork out £80m (€125m) on around 35 million pints.

Spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association, Mark Hastings, told The Sun: "We usually see around £55m (€85m) business on a Saturday but this weekend we expect that to hit £105m (€164m).

"If drinkers carry on celebrating over the whole weekend, the total could well top previous records like the Millennium."

And police are preparing for a new batch of England fans heading for Japan if England win the second round match in Niigata. Supporters would have six days to arrange to travel for a quarter final expected to be against Brazil on Friday.

Assistant Chief Constable Ron Hogg, leading the British operation to assist the Japanese police, said: "I have been in touch with my counterpart in England to make sure we step up the operation with the prospect that England may progress to a quarter final against Brazil.

"We have no concerns that troublemakers will come out but we want to make sure that we are on top of the situation."

Today fans were arriving in Niigata, many looking for tickets on the black market, with police saying were selling for £160 (€250) to £350 (€550).