Sussex came to a standstill today to watch England go through World Cup agony in their quarter-final against Brazil.

Across Sussex, thousands of fans got up early to head for the office, the pub or one of the big screens installed for the occasion.

Trains and roads were packed at sunrise. But the county ground to a halt at kick-off time.

Many companies laid on free breakfasts in a bid to prevent mass absenteeism, although others decided to give their staff time off to watch the historic clash in Japan.

The frantic football fever spread to schools, where morning assemblies were replaced by wide-screen TVs showing the game from Shizuoka in Japan.

In Worthing, Mark, 41, queued outside the Vintners Parrot pub in Warwick Street, with his girlfriend Sue, 30, from 6am to make sure they got a good seat. He said: "If it is worth getting up for, it is worth queueing to make sure you get in.

"It is probably the best thing that has happened to this country in terms of football since 1966. I am so nervous and excited. It only happens once every four years so we want to have a decent seat. We have queued like this for all the early games. There is a fantastic atmosphere here."

In Brighton, at the Font and Firkin pub in The Lanes, Sussex University student Holly Crause, 18, said: "We were queuing out here at 6.45am to watch the game. Owen's goal was fantastic but it's a shame England could not hang on to win the game."

Ronaldinho put the South Americans ahead minutes after half-time, having seen team mate Rivaldo cancel out England's lead in the dying seconds of the first half.

But minutes later the scorer was sent off after a late and harsh tackle on England defender Danny Mills.

Millions of fans watched aghast as Ronaldinho's free kick floated over goalkeeper David Seaman after 50 minutes, putting England into a losing position for the first time in the competition.

Striker Michael Owen had shot England into a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute of the game after Liverpool team mate Emile Heskey laid on the side's first real chance of the game in Shizuoka in Japan.