2022 World Cup: Brighton boisterous after England 3-0 win

Fans across Brighton packed out bars for the fixture yesterday evening, in anticipation of a clash that would secure their place in the round of 16 for the tournament.

Hundreds of football fans flocked to Ye Olde King and Queen in Marlborough Place to watch the highly anticipated match last night, with many hoping for a triumphant victory after a lacklustre and goalless draw against the United States last Friday.

As fans queued to enter the venue in the run-up to kick-off, some England fans expressed pessimism, with Noel and Archie both expecting a disappointing draw.

Huge queues formed ahead of the World Cup fixture (Image: The Argus)

Meanwhile, Welsh fan Kaitlyn said she was “petrified” ahead of the match and expressed doubts that the Welsh dragon could wrestle a victory from the Three Lions to sure a place in the round of 16.

Inside the pub, however, crowds were in high spirits, cheering, chanting and singing the national anthem in full voice as kick-off drew near.

Patrick Dunne, who had donned an England shirt for the match, expected a win for the Three Lions, but said that the clash “won’t be comfortable and Wales will get chances”.

Patrick Dunne said he thought Wales would have chances to score against England (Image: The Argus)

Eyes were glued to the screen, with the atmosphere at the pub crackling with excitement and anticipation. There was a rush of enthusiasm throughout the first half of the match among the pubgoers, but the crucial goal to take England into the lead and secure their place in the round of 16 eluded the team in Qatar.

As the crowds rushed to the bar at half-time, one fan expressed frustration at the “boring” first half.

“I think we will squeak a 1-0 win,” he said.

However, five minutes into the second half, England fans got what they were waiting for as Marcus Rashford fired a free-kick past Wales’ Danny Ward.

The crowd erupted in a loud roar, with drinks being thrown high into the air in irrepressible joy and relief.

Drinks were thrown into the air as England scored (Image: The Argus)

Mid-celebration, Phil Foden scored a second goal for England just 60 seconds later, adding to the excitement of the pubgoers.

By the time Marcus Rashford scored for a second time, taking England to 3-0, the crowd was enraptured and sang ‘It’s coming home’.

Fans clapped and chanted ‘England’, while others clung to each other in delight as England’s place in the round of 16 was all but secure. However, one fan wrapped in a Welsh flag looked up at the screen stony-faced.

A Welsh fan looked up at the screen stony-faced as they trailed to England 3-0 (Image: The Argus)

The jubilant spirit of the rest of the crowd was only punctured briefly by loud booing when controversial FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared on the live feed from Qatar.

The final whistle was blown and the hundreds of fans once again erupted in delight, before spilling out of the pub into the street.

Reflecting on the match, Patrick admitted he had overestimated the challenge Wales would pose and praised Marcus Rashford for his two incredible goals within just 18 minutes of each other.

Another, more inebriated, England fan, said: “With Rashford on our team, of course it’s coming home.”

England will now face Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal on December 4 at 7pm.