England meet Wales in a Major Tournament for the first time since 2016 this evening. Both sides are in with a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup. England only need to avoid a four-goal deficit tonight, whereas Wales are relying on other results, whilst also beating England.
Expectations were high after a 6-2 victory over Iran, but England manager Gareth Southgate has come under increased scrutiny after a goalless draw against the USA. Southgate seems to know that barring a catastrophic collapse England will be making a safe passage through.
Should England win their group, they would face the runners up from Group A on Sunday, one of the Netherland, Senegal or Ecuador, with host nation Qatar already knocked out. Finishing second in the group would mean facing the Winners of Group A.
As fans in Cheltenham are gearing up for the match, with a strong student presence, sports bars are expecting to be rammed in the town centre. University of Gloucestershire Student, Harrison Burridge said “I’m very much looking forward to the game” and that he was “looking forward to going to the pub with my mates as it gives us an excuse to meet each other when otherwise we probably wouldn’t see each other.”
With Gloucestershire and Cheltenham being so close to the Welsh border, there is a strong presence from across the Severn in Cheltenham, student from Wales are hoping for an upset. One student we spoke to said “I’m going to the pub with all my friends from Uni, who are all English, so if Wales beat them then I will be loving life.”
