Five million England fans are expected to call in sick to work today after England’s incredible win over Colombia last night, (July 3).
The tension was palpable as the game went to penalties, with beer gardens and pubs packed to the brim with excited and hopeful fans.
With the game exceeding the standard 90 minutes, it left a lot of opportunity for fans to get drunk, and the 4-3 win over Colombia on penalties saw crowds erupt into cheers and celebrations – with even more cause for drinks to flow.
40 million pints were expected to have been consumed last night in pubs and bars across the country.
While yesterday evening was filled with joy and glory, this morning isn’t looking as appealing for all those fans who were on the beers last night, with five million of them expected to call in sick to work today.
A study by Centropy PR asked 2000 people if they’d consider staying home from work today (July 4) following the crucial game last night.
The results revealed, following England’s advance into the last eight, one in 10 of us were planning to stay home from work today.
Seven per cent of people said if England won, they’d ‘definitely’ stay home from work, while 16 per cent said they were considering staying home. Eight per cent said they ‘possibly’ would.
Altogether, it means around five million jobs would go worker-less in England today.
The founder of Centropy PR, Steven George-Hilley, told The Sun he’d be willing to let every member of staff work from home if the three lions won:
If we win, I’ll be allowing every member of staff to work from home.
This is a really important moment for the country, we need everyone to get behind Gareth and our boys to take England all the way to the final.
England fans on Twitter weren’t ashamed to admit they were considering calling in sick to work either.
One fan wrote:
I’m not sure what real happiness feels like, but I’m sure this is better. Call in sick, kick a cat, drink loads of beer. Just savour this, and bottle it up. ENGLAND. ENGERLAND.
Another added:
Wonder if the england players are gonna call in sick like the rest of the country… go on lads have a few bevvies you deserve it.
A third said:
I’m literally so gassed I don’t know whether to scream, cry or sink back 10 Sambuca’s and call in sick to work tomorrow!!
It’s coming home, It’s coming home #England #Champione
The study also asked England fans where they would most likely watch the game, and surprisingly only 7 per cent said they would be watching from a pub.
45 per cent said they’d watch the game at home, 5 per cent at a friend’s house, and 2 per cent at the office.
All these percentages prove that everyone had their own way of watching the game, but after England pulled through in the penalties I don’t have to do a study to know that 100 per cent of fans were celebrating.
Three words: It’s coming home.
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.