‘It’s been a fantastic game’

The crowds were however a bit subdued, seeing as kick-off was at 1pm.

Customer adviser Kerry Ferbrache and storeman Steve La Touche were donning their England shirts while watching the game at PingQuay.

‘It’s been a fantastic game,’ said Mr La Touche, just after the team had scored its fourth goal against Iran.

‘It’s a bit of a quieter atmosphere this year,’ said Miss Ferbrache.

‘But watching them play, they are really acting like a team and bonding.’

Those who stayed for the second half said people had drifted out to head back to work when their lunch break finished.

Dawn Bryant and Rob Amey were at the Ship and Crown to watch the match while visiting Guernsey from Bath.

‘This is the first time I have watched an England game in a pub,’ said Ms Bryant.

‘I think it would be a lot busier and louder if it was a game in the evening.’

With the tournament host country Qatar being three hours ahead, game times do not match up as well for people who work a nine to five job. But it has ended up being a good thing for Aidah Holt, who is a nurse.

‘Normally I would be working nights but this year I can come down and watch,’ she said while watching at the Thomas De La Rue.

This year is a momentous one for Wales, which qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

‘I’m buzzing,’ said production manager Craig Thompson, from Wales.

Wearing his Welsh football shirt and matching hat, he planned to sit in the same spot to see his home country play later in the day.

England scored six goals against Iran, which scored two goals.

England will be up against the USA on Friday at 7pm.