July 01, 2006	Saturday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 4, 1427

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LONDON, June 30: Up to 30 million people are expected to watch England take on Portugal for a place in the World Cup semi-finals on Saturday, with pubs and bookmakers hoping for a sales bonanza.

The BBC said up to 16 million people will tune in at home, with millions more watching David Beckham and the team in pubs, clubs and on big screens.

Football fever and sunny weather will lead to a 20 percent fall in the number of shoppers compared to the same day last year, according to retail research group Footfall.

“It is a big national event and everyone is getting caught up in it as we go further on,” a spokesman said.

However, booming sales of barbecues, beer and televisions should offer some cheer for supermarkets.

The Met Office forecast fine and mainly sunny weather on Saturday with temperatures as high as 30 degrees Centigrade (80F) in the south.

Pubs hope to sell an extra 15 million pints of beer on the day, boosting takings by 47 million pounds, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.

A spokesman for the trade body, which represents more than half the nation's 59,000 pubs, said the timing of the game -- kick off 4.00pm UK time -- would help sales.

Bookmakers predicted it will be the biggest-ever England football match for betting.

William Hill make England 4-7 favourites to beat Portugal in Gelsenkirchen and 11-2 to go on to win the World Cup.

“(It's) the biggest betting match involving England ever played,” said the firm's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Prime Minister Tony Blair will be among the huge TV audience hoping England can avoid a repeat of their quarter-final defeat to Portugal in the Euro 2004 tournament.

A Downing Street spokesman said Blair will be in London and will “watch as much as he can” of the game.

The Queen sent the team a goodwill message two weeks ago, but Buckingham Palace declined to say whether she would be watching.

British troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world will be able to see the game live via the British Forces Broadcasting Service, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

While red-and-white England flags will be adorning car and bedroom windows all over the country, one corner will be painted red and green for the day.

The south London area known as Little Portugal is braced for thousands of fans cheering for captain Luis Figo and his team.

The Vasco da Gama pub, which will show the game with a Portuguese commentary, is expecting a full house.

“Everyone is optimistic,” said the pub's manager Maria Azevedo. “I think Portugal will win 2-1.”

In Yorkshire, highlights will be shown on the big screen during breaks in play at the sell-out one-day cricket match between England and Sri Lanka.

Cash machine operator LINK is braced for a 40 percent rise in demand during half-time. It expects 6,200 withdrawals per minute, with a similar peak just after the final whistle.—Reuters