England v Denmark, 12.30pm (And remember it's only a game)

Hype, hope and huge expectation surround England's World Cup match against Denmark today, with millions of people expected to flood into pubs and bars for the kick-off at 12.30pm.

The licensing trade expects about 35,000 pubs will be showing the game and hundreds of restaurants and bars have laid on special menus for customers.

Bookmakers have England as favourites to win – William Hill is quoting odds of 5-6 on the national team. Experts predict a record £15m will be staked on the match, beating the previous mark of £12m set for last Friday's game against Argentina.

As the team and the fans prepared for the game at Niigata in Japan, the chief coach, Sven Goran Eriksson, called on his players to "seize the moment" today.

He has said he believes the vital factors in what is expected to be a tight game will be "patience, keeping our shape and not being afraid".

If the deadlock is not broken and the game goes to the dreaded penalties, Mr Eriksson believes this time his team will be ready.