31 million people in England (plus another couple of million if you count the people in the other areas of the UK) tuned in yesterday to watch England's opening World Cup game against Paraguay. The streets were deserted as the game was played. That's around a massive two-thirds of England's population and around a half of Britain's population. England won the game 1-0.

31 million is also equal to the entire population of Canada!

Imagine the size of the audience if England reach the Final? That was only the opening game.



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Streets quiet as 31million tune in to England victory

By JO KNOWSLEY, LOUISA PRITCHARD AND DANIEL BOFFEY, Mail on Sunday

11th June 2006


England fans watch the game on a big screen at Tower Bridge, London.


At 2pm yesterday the waiting was over. The pubs were packed - and the high streets were hushed.

Just three minutes later England was celebrating. As the ball deflected into the Paraguay goal, the fans' tension released with an almighty roar. An own goal or not, the Three Lions were on their way.

An astonishing 31million fans tuned into the BBC coverage, with 21million watching at home, three million in pubs and on big public screens - plus seven million listening to the radio or viewing the match over the internet.

In London's packed Trafalgar Square the frenzy was so great that even Lord Nelson was adorned with a red and white scarf on his perch above the throng.

Thousands of pubs across the country were packed to overflowing, many having started to fill up in the early hours as supporters took advantage of 24-hour drinking. But on the roads it was a different story.

The normally chock-a-block M25 around London was virtually car-free.

In Clayton Square, Liverpool, a sea of red and white flooded on to the streets as more than 20,000 cheering fans crammed in to watch the opening clash on a giant screen.

A helicopter buzzed above the bustling shopping centre with a huge banner emblazoned with a 'Come on England' rallying call.

Sadly, the crowd grew restless and there were menacing boos after Anfield heroes Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch picked up yellow cards. Several people were arrested when trouble flared - with bottles and missiles being hurled at police.

Superintendent Andy Fisher said: "A minority of people decided to spoil the event."

And at Canary Wharf, East London - where 6,000 gathered at two sites above big screens - 16 people were hurt in a 200-strong brawl. Police made a small number of arrests.

Hundreds of British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq saw the game - decked out in England shirts and waving Cross of St George flags.

The National Grid reported a massive power surge as televisions went on - with another massive jolt to the system during half-time.

WORLD CUP SCORECARD


31 million people tuned in to the match – 65 per cent of the English population.

4 million sausages, 1.5 million steaks, 700,000 chicken drumsticks, 6 million prepared salads, 3 million tubs of ice cream and 21 million ice lollies were eaten. Sauerkraut sales were not recorded

3 million crates of beer and 1.5 million litres of wine drunk at home. 1.5 million pints of beer drunk in pubs

Huge power surge at half- time in England's match of 850 megawatts – equivalent to 350,000 fridge doors opening

3 million disposable barbecues and 150 tons of charcoal sold

   

What thge article failed to mention wass that 31 million people tuned in to watch England play like crap. If it hadn't been for Gamarra's own goal, it would have been a 0-0 draw.

   

It sucked big time allright!
But England weren't the onley ones with trouble scoring...
Trinidad & Tobago managed to ceep the ball out of their net for a rough 90 min's against the so called "super swedes"! Embarasing to say the least..

   

The England game sure was disappointing. Drawn out and slow. I must disagree that England needed Paraguay to score an own goal. Beckham's shot was on target to go in the net all on it's own. Gamarra's head-in barely altered the trajectory of Beckhams shot; if anything, Gamarra's head-in just made the ball fall downwards a little faster. Either way, the keeper wasn't in position to defend a low shot or high shot on the far side of the net.

Regardless, both England vs. Paraguay and Argentina vs. Côte d'Ivoire were really lame matches. England played like crap in their match and Argentina in theirs was just simply being outplayed.

Germany vs. Costa Rica in the opener and Angola vs. Portugal have been the two best games so far IMO. Portugal was especially fun to watch in action.

   

The opener, Germany vs Costa Rica, is the one I apreciated most so far. Great shots and Lahm's cutt-in and finnish was by far the most beautiful goal so far!

   

Daily Mail
Paul Hayward



I trust you observed Diego Maradona's angst [[he was as the stadium watching the game]] as the officials in the Argentina-Ivory Coast game failed to award his team a goal when the ball appeared to have crossed the line.

Diego jumped to his feet. Diego clutched his head. Diego raged at all the injustices of the world and fought back his tears. How COULD they do this? Is there no beauty or fairness on God's blessed Earth?

Not since 1986, old mate.

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