Millions back home braced for England showdown

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) As many as 30 million people in Britain are expected to watch England take on Portugal for a place in the World Cup semi-finals tomorrow, 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 captain 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 tomorrow with temperatures as high as 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) in the south of England.

Bookmakers predicted the game in the German town of Gelsenkirchen 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.

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.

An area of south London 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.'' REUTERS DH RAI2001