England fans plot 'sick days' and bosses let their staff finish early for Germany clash as fan parks sell out with pubs set to to sell eight million pints and 20 million to watch on TV
Football fever has gripped the nation with England fans plotting sick days and some bosses even letting staff finish early for tomorrow's blockbuster Euro 2020 match against Germany at Wembley.
Millions are expected to head to pubs across the country for the game, though some have taken to social media to complain about the 5pm kick-off - which could throw a spanner in the works for those stuck in the office.
To get around the obstacle, fans revealed how they are pulling a sickie, leaving work early and even booking coronavirus vaccines so they'll be free at 5pm.
The contest against old rivals Germany is one of the most-anticipated in recent memory, with fan parks sold out across the country and 22 million people expected to tune in on TV.
Fans are also expected to buy more than five million pints during the clash and trade unions have urged bosses to let workers finish early so they can watch the game.
Around 45,000 fans will be allowed into Wembley for the match with England fans warned to stay vigilant as touts offer tickets for up to £10,000 online.
Fan parks across the country have sold out as the nation awaits England's match against Germany at Wembley tomorrow
The Trade Union Congress says employers should talk to their staff and make arrangements for the 5pm kick-off. Some fans took to Twitter to reveal their bosses had heeded the advice.
One shared a photo of an email they'd received which showed a picture of England manager Gareth Southgate alongside the words: 'You're going home to watch it coming home!'
The message added that a 4pm finish had been authorised for all workers.
However, other fans were not as lucky, forcing them to pull a sickie or come up with clever tactics to avoid missing the game.
One person wrote: 'Booking a vaccine at 3:30 on Tuesday to finish early at work for the England game.'
Another said: 'England are playing Tuesday....that's my sick day sorted.'
While a third added: 'England-Germany. Taking another sick day and having two pints by noon.'
The TUC says flexible working has many benefits for companies such as cutting down on absenteeism and raising productivity.
It added that the rise in home working will mean many employees will already be at home.
Companies could also arrange for the Euros game to be shown somewhere on the premises where appropriate, the TUC has suggested.
Other suggestions include companies allowing staff to start or finish work early or late to allow them to work round the game.
TUC General Secretary, and England and Arsenal supporter, Frances O'Grady said: 'Millions of workers around the UK will want to cheer on their national teams in Euro 2020 – especially after the tournament was postponed last year.
More than 22 million people are expected to watch the game in pubs and in homes on Tuesday
'Bosses should talk to their staff and try and let people who want to watch the games do so, either at work or at home – and then claim back their time afterwards.
'Whether it's about major sporting events like Euro 2020, attending a medical appointment or picking up the kids from school, allowing people more flexibility in how and when they do their work makes them happier. It cuts absenteeism and raises productivity.'
Meanwhile, websites viewed by MailOnline are flogging tickets for the match for as high as £3,000, though it was reported in the Times that some were going for as much as £10,000, with campaigners urging supporters to 'avoid them like the plague'.
Official tickets were initially allocated in a ballot, with those who were successful but unable to attend the game urged to sell their seats at the price they paid and to registered friends via the UEFA app.
But the newspaper claims some supporters are instead making a huge profit by advertising their tickets on secondary sites, accepting inflated payments and then transferring the electronic tickets to buyers by registering them as friends.
The sites selling pricey seats seen by MailOnline include LiveFootballTickets, which is offering tickets from £693.50 to £3,000 - plus a hefty £900 'service fee'.
Another site, Seatsnet, has tickets going for as much as £1,100, while Ticombo charges up to £1,759.
Meanwhile, the British Beer and Pub Association hopes eight million pints will be sold on Tuesday, with 5.25 million of those served during the last 16 fixture between the Three Lions and Germany.
The ongoing limitations mean beer sales will be 1.3 million pints lower during England's match than if it was shown in pubs without restrictions, the BBPA estimates.
The trade body claimed this would result in more than £5 million revenue lost to pubs in England during the game.
It said some of its members had reported beer sales were lower than hoped for during the Euro 2020 tournament so far.
According to a BBPA survey of 1,000 pub-goers at the end of May, 85 per cent of pub-visiting football fans believe current Covid-19 restrictions will negatively impact their experience of watching Euro 2020 at pubs this summer.
Half said they would be more likely to watch games at a pub if all restrictions were lifted.
Emma McClarkin, BBPA chief executive, said: 'No matter the occasion, England versus Germany is always a big match.'
She added: 'We know many pubs haven't experienced the boost to their trade which they'd hoped for from the Euros.
'No standing and limits on group sizes, as well as social distancing, are severely reducing the number of people who can enjoy the Euros at the pub.
'With that said, there is still no better place to watch live sport on the telly than at the pub.
'I implore Three Lions fans to support England and the pub by cheering on the Three Lions at their local.
'To secure our pubs for future tournaments and national occasions like the Euros, there can be no further delays to the lifting of restrictions.
'On July 19 all restrictions on pubs must be lifted. We are counting down the days to freedom for our pubs.'