Football crazy England came to a standstill today to watch their team take on Slovenia in the crucial Group C match in the World Cup.
Shopping centres and busy roads were deserted, and public transport and city centres were eerily quiet as millions of people across the nation watched their team on the TV.
England's big cities - such as Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Bristol - showed the action on big screens watched by thousands of fans.
The big game was a 3pm kick-off British time, so millions of workers took a sickie so they can watch their footballing heroes.
Power firms were expecting a surge in demand for electricity as many people left work early for the 3pm kick-off - and another power surge at half-time when millions of kettles were boiled as people made tea to calm their nerves (though an equal number of people had a pint of beer or two).
Judges in courts throughout England had, at the request of jurors, started proceedings early today in order to finish in time for the England match.
However, some of Our Boys and Girls out in Afghanistan had to wait to see the action.
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said servicemen and women were involved in a 'vigil ceremony' at Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, to remember recent casualties of the conflict.
He said troops not required for operational duties would be able to watch a recording of the game about an hour after it finished.
All this highlights how much football has a grip on England's national psyche.
England were unrecognisable today from the team that failed to impress in their two previous World Cup games against USA and Algeria. Not only because England wore an all-red kit for the first time since 1995, but also because of the magnificent football today.
Several Slovenian players, most notably defender Bostjan Cesar, said prior to the match that they will terrorise England striker Wayne Rooney and make life as difficult as possible for him. But that failed to materialise, and England had no trouble getting a fairly easy, and well-derserved victory.
Jermaine Defoe scored the only goal of the match after 23 minutes - it was his first ever World Cup goal. But England dominated the game so much that they should have won by a greater margin - Wayne Rooney was gutted that he didn't make it 2-0 in the second half when, one-on-one with the Slovenia goalkeeper, all he managed to do was steer his sublime shot onto the post.
It was a nervewracking final few minutes, knowing that a Slovenian equaliser could send England out of the tournament. But, thankfully, England held on.
But Slovenia are out - and only just. Despite being 1-0 down since the 23rd minute, the other game in the group between USA and Algeria was still 0-0 - and that result would have put Slovenia through with England, and the USA and Algeria out, had both results stayed the same.
However, a very late goal for the USA - in injury time at the end of the match - gave them a 1-0 win and it is they who progress through to the Last 16 with England. They also finished top of the group, albeit on goal difference after finishing level on points with England. It is the first time ever that the USA have topped a World Cup group.
In the Last 16, England will play the team who finished top of Group D and the USA will play the team who finished second in Group D. That group contains Germany, Ghana, Serbia and Australia.
Jermain Defoe the hero as England raise their game to book place in last 16
By Sportsmail Reporter
23rd June 2010
Daily Mail
2010 World Cup
England 1-0 Slovenia
Defoe 23
Final Group C standings
...................P.....W.....D.....L.....F.....A.....Points
USA..........3......1......2......0.....4.....3........5
England...3.....1.......2.....0.....2......1........5
Slovenia...3.....1.......1.....1.....3......3.......4
Algeria......3.....0.......1.....2.....0......2.......1
Other result: USA 1-0 Algeria
England and USA go through to the Last 16.
England put a week of World Cup turmoil behind them as Jermain Defoe's winner sealed their place in the knockout stages
The Tottenham striker nudged home the first-half winner that propelled the Three Lions into the last 16.
But Landon Donovan's injury-time winner for the United States against Algeria meant the outcome was not exactly what England wanted.
Finishing second in the group, Fabio Capello's men will now meet the winners of Group D - possibly Germany - in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon. It also leaves them in the same quarter of the draw as Diego Maradona's Argentina.
Settling the nerves: Defoe pounces to put England ahead in the first half of the crunch clash with Slovenia
But the main thing is they are still there, and Capello can at least look back on the result with satisfaction, given his decision to select Defoe above the non-scoring talents of Emile Heskey.
Yet, there was so much more to cherish. With the notable exception of Wayne Rooney, who did not look impressed to be replaced by Joe Cole, and the fact their goals difference read only one, England found themselves again, producing all the verve and fire their manager knows they are so capable of.
Days of rancour gave way to the sheer exhilaration of seeing a team play in the manner of old and though their profligacy ensured there were some nervy moments to survive before victory could be achieved, in the end they made it.
Satisfaction: England striker Defoe celebrates marking his first start of the World Cup with a goal
The men who combined to give England that crucial, crucial goal were both exorcising a personal ghost. It has almost been forgotten it is so long ago but right at the beginning of England's World Cup, Defoe was a starter for Capello.
Hauled off after a goalless 45 minutes against Andorra in Barcelona, Defoe was condemned to the role of impact substitute for the remainder of the qualifiers, admittedly scoring three times in the process. Milner's wound is much fresher.
England were unrecognisable today, not only because of their far superior performance compared to their previous two performances in this World Cup, but because they were wearing all red - red shirts, red shorts and red socks. It is the first time since 1995 - in a 3-1 defeat to Brazil - that England have worn all red. The only time previously that they have worn it at a World Cup was in the 1962 World Cup in Chile when England drew 0-0 against Bulgaria.
Always a Capello favourite, the Aston Villa man was asked to plug a hole on the left of England's midfield for the opening encounter with the United States.
Given a right old chasing by Carlos Bocanegra, the 24-year-old was hauled off after half an hour and must have wondered if he would see any more action in South Africa.
Standing room only: An animated Fabio Capello is up off the bench shouting instructions to his England player
Capello is intensely loyal though. Deciding he needed more solidity defensively than Aaron Lennon can provide, the Italian turned to Milner for the right-sided role. His early contribution was riddled with mistakes.
But the cross he swung deep into the Slovenia box midway through that opening period was almost Beckham-esque. Defoe had made his way into the danger zone, like any instinctive marksman would, got just in front of Marko Suler and stuck out his leg, prodding the ball goalwards with enough power to get it past Samir Handanovic, who did nearly make a save.
It had taken Defoe 23 minutes to achieve what Heskey had managed once in eight years; a competitive goal. Visibly, the pressure lifted from English shoulders.
So close: The frame of the goal came to Slovenia's rescue as Rooney almost doubled England's lead
The high-tempo, quick passing, tigerish pressing game Capello had yearned for, and which temperatures of a South African winter suit so well suddenly appeared, and so did the opportunities.
Frank Lampard and skipper Steven Gerrard had the first couple before half-time, the Liverpool man knowing he would have scored if he had put more power behind a side-footed effort that failed to beat Handanovic after a hitherto quiet Rooney had provided the superb square ball.
Capello cut a frustrated figure when, eight yards out and completely unmarked, Defoe made no contact after Barry had lofted a pass into a Slovenia penalty area in a state of confusion thanks to some selfless running from Rooney.
John Terry brought a brilliant save out of Handanovic when he rose to meet Barry's corner at the far post before Rooney struck the base of a post after his unchecked run into the penalty area had been spotted by Lampard.
Stepping up: Terry played his part at the back
Frustration: Gerrard missed a chance in the first half
It was sumptuous fare lifted directly from the Premier League, the kind of football that prompted Capello to make his 'crazy' claim that England could reach the final of this grand and prestigious tournament in Soccer City on July 11.
In a week for apologies and forgiveness, the England supporters responded by showing they bore no hard feelings for Rooney's rant in Cape Town by chanting his name with gusto, although on the second occasion it was for their talisman's exit - unhappily - to make way for Joe Cole to make his long-awaited bow.
USA's 1-0 win against Algeria means that they finish top of a group in the World Cup for the first time ever.
Amid the euphoria at finding a team, one fairly large problem was being overlooked. England's lead remained stuck at one and could so easily be snatched away.
Had first Terry, then Glen Johnson, not thrown themselves in front of Slovenian shots, the smallest country in the tournament would have had their equaliser and England would have been out.
For Slovenia, events elsewhere would give them cause for huge regret.
For England, pride was restored - and a sigh of relief could be breathed.
ENGLAND'S ALL-RED KIT FOR SLOVENIA MATCH
England will take the unusual step of wearing an all-red strip for the crunch match with Slovenia.
England have historically worn red shirts with white shorts and red socks as an away strip option, occasionally going for navy blue shorts when white ones have clashed.
But with Slovenia wearing all white and nominated the 'home' team at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday, England are going for the rare all-red option.
It is believed the only time they previously wore it in the finals was at the 1962 World Cup in Chile, where they drew 0-0 with a poor Bulgaria side who had already been beaten by Argentina and Hungary.
The result that day - the first-round final group match - was enough to see England scrape into the knock-out phase on goal average, but a repeat on Wednesday would not be sufficient.
England are first thought to have worn the strip in a friendly against Peru in 1962, which the Three Lions won 4-0.
The same kit was used in Bobby Moore's first game as captain in 1963, a 4-2 win against Czechoslovakia.
They won against Belgium 3-1 in all-red back in 1970, but had no such luck against Brazil in 1995, which ended in a defeat by the same scoreline.
Apparently the current squad of players prefer the red shorts option to navy blue and anything that makes them happy at the moment is a boost.
England goes football crazy!
By Wil Longbottom
23rd June 2010
Daily Mail
Millions of fans had downed tools to watch the crunch game against Slovenia and went through the traditional rollercoaster of emotions as England desperately held on to their lead.
It sets the stage for a mouth-watering weekend as England could face their nemesis Germany on Sunday in the second round, depending on other results later tonight.
Company time: Employees at Phoenix Life Assurance celebrate in a marquee at the company headquarters in Birmingham
On edge: Pupils at a school in Wakefield watch on as the match between England and Slovenia unfolded
England expects: Thousands at Glastonbury watched the match on a giant screen
Goal! The Glastonbury crowd go wild as England score the first goal against Slovenia
Celebration: England fans watch the match on big screens in Manchester City Centre
Shopping centres and busy routes were deserted, while public transport and city centres were eerily quiet as an expectant nation held its breath during a nervy encounter.
England had to win the game to have any chance of progressing in the tournament, and Jermain Defoe gave them the perfect start in the 23rd minute against Slovenia.
Cities including Bristol, Manchester and Newcastle showed the action on big screen as fans gathered to cheer England on.
We did it: Jermain Defoe celebrates his winning goal on the pitch while England manager Fabio Capello hugs Wayne Rooney as the final whistle goes
But fans in Richmond, London, were left in the dark after a power cut prevented them from watching the game.
Power firms were expecting a surge in demand for electricity as many people left work early for the 3pm kick-off.
In Birmingham, two crown court juries were allowed to halt their deliberations while the match took place.
And some councils gave employees the option of using flexi-time or holidays to watch the game.
A spokesman for the Judicial Communications Office said: 'A number of judges in courts in England and Wales have, at the request of jurors, started proceedings early today in order to finish in time for the England World Cup match this afternoon.
'With the early start and shortened lunch breaks there will only be a minimal impact on court business.'
But troops in Afghanistan had to wait to see the action.
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said servicemen and women were involved in a 'vigil ceremony' at Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, to remember recent casualties of the conflict.
He said troops not required for operational duties would be able to watch a recording of the game about an hour after it finished.
There were fears of mass absenteeism and employers were being encouraged to let staff go early to watch the match.
Schools had also made special arrangements to either close early or put up giant screens in playing fields so pupils would miss none of the action.
England took a 23rd minute lead after Jermain Defoe scored from a James Milner cross from the right wing.
Manager Fabio Capello made three changes to the England team - bringing in striker Jermain Defoe, midfielder James Milner and centre back Matthew Upson.
That meant there was no place for Emile Heskey, Aaron Lennon and the suspended Jamie Carragher.
England fans leaving the stadium felt the team had finally got their World Cup campaign under way.
Dan Thomas, 30, a sales manager from Guildford, Surrey, said: 'It was an excellent game. We defended well, passed well, it was a completely different performance.'
Adam McManus, 32, from Balham, south London, said: 'It was a much better performance, we showed a lot more spirit.
'They looked like they were a football team whereas they didn't last time. They looked like they believed in themselves.
But they kept us on the edge of our seats and we should have scored more goals.
'Onwards and upwards.'
An emotional England coach Fabio Capello was full of praise for his players.
'We played together, fight together and I am really, really happy for the result,' he told BBC 1.
'This was the team that I know.
'This team can go forward. All the team the coaches, their mind is free.
'We can go forward without fear, without everything.'
He said he was now going to cancel his ticket home to stay for the next match.
Derek Zackon, 50, from Carshalton, south-west London, said: 'It was a nervous start but they got the job done.
'The whole country must have been on the edge of their seats for the last 15 minutes.'
Following representations from pupils, Kevin Moody, headmaster at Oakwood Park Grammar in Maidstone, Kent, has agreed to let children at the all-boys school leave at 2pm instead of the usual 3.25pm so they can get home in time for the kick-off.
In a letter to parents, he said: 'Our feeling is that it is a sensible course of action which will ensure learning is not disrupted by other distractions.'
Some local authorities are allowing staff to use their flexi-time to watch the match.
The Local Government Association said it would depend on the job, as a community support officer on shift was a different matter to someone working in the post room.
'If you look at it from a common sense perspective, you can make arrangements so an employee can make time up later in the week, that's a reasonable approach,' a spokesman said.'It's finding a balance between what everyone wants to get out of it, watching England win, and ensuring services continue as normal.'
Football fans heading to Glastonbury Festival will be able to watch the make-or-break match on the Pyramid Stage screens.
Should England qualify for the knock-out stages, their last-16 games will also be shown live at the festival.
But Wimbledon will not be showing the match as organisers refused to relent on its World Cup ban despite fears fans could snub the event in favour of England's footballers.
Military personnel serving in Afghanistan will not be able to watch the match live, the Ministry of Defence said, but a replay of the game would be shown on the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS).
Troops in more remote locations, without satellite TV, would be sent a DVD later, the MoD added.
Heathrow Airport has installed extra screens in each terminal so that travelling fans will not miss the action.
Jubilation: Fans at Broadwater Sports Bar in Worthing, West Sussex, celebrate as Defoe scored
Support: Thousands of fans gather to watch the game on a screen in Castlefield, Manchester
Downed tools: A city worker's screen in London has the England match over financial data
Tumbleweed: The centre of Newcastle is virtually empty as the England match gets underway
Intent: Two workers at Foxs Stores in Pimlico, London, watch the match on an iPad
Call to arms: An England fan blows on a vuvuzela as crowds begin to gather in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Rapt: A member of backroom staff at Wimbledon catches the game on a small television
We'll take them on the beaches: England fans lay out their flags in the beach of Port Elizabeth before this afternoon's match
Prime seat: A lone fan watches the match on a screen in Chatham, Kent
Empty streets: Buses in Haymarket in central London wait at stops - but no one seems to be getting on while England take on Slovenia
Car-free zone: The A47 Norwich, the main road that runs through Norfolk, is deserted during the match
Deserted: Just three shoppers browse stores in this shopping centre in Cambridge as millions watched the crunch game
At the races? Fans keep up to do at Salisbury Racecourse
Mane attraction: Stan Stanfield (left) and Dex Marshall pose with a police horse as England fans prepare for today's game against Slovenia in Port Elizabeth
Shopping centres and busy roads were deserted, and public transport and city centres were eerily quiet as millions of people across the nation watched their team on the TV.
England's big cities - such as Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Bristol - showed the action on big screens watched by thousands of fans.
The big game was a 3pm kick-off British time, so millions of workers took a sickie so they can watch their footballing heroes.
Power firms were expecting a surge in demand for electricity as many people left work early for the 3pm kick-off - and another power surge at half-time when millions of kettles were boiled as people made tea to calm their nerves (though an equal number of people had a pint of beer or two).
Judges in courts throughout England had, at the request of jurors, started proceedings early today in order to finish in time for the England match.
However, some of Our Boys and Girls out in Afghanistan had to wait to see the action.
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said servicemen and women were involved in a 'vigil ceremony' at Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, to remember recent casualties of the conflict.
He said troops not required for operational duties would be able to watch a recording of the game about an hour after it finished.
All this highlights how much football has a grip on England's national psyche.
England were unrecognisable today from the team that failed to impress in their two previous World Cup games against USA and Algeria. Not only because England wore an all-red kit for the first time since 1995, but also because of the magnificent football today.
Several Slovenian players, most notably defender Bostjan Cesar, said prior to the match that they will terrorise England striker Wayne Rooney and make life as difficult as possible for him. But that failed to materialise, and England had no trouble getting a fairly easy, and well-derserved victory.
Jermaine Defoe scored the only goal of the match after 23 minutes - it was his first ever World Cup goal. But England dominated the game so much that they should have won by a greater margin - Wayne Rooney was gutted that he didn't make it 2-0 in the second half when, one-on-one with the Slovenia goalkeeper, all he managed to do was steer his sublime shot onto the post.
It was a nervewracking final few minutes, knowing that a Slovenian equaliser could send England out of the tournament. But, thankfully, England held on.
But Slovenia are out - and only just. Despite being 1-0 down since the 23rd minute, the other game in the group between USA and Algeria was still 0-0 - and that result would have put Slovenia through with England, and the USA and Algeria out, had both results stayed the same.
However, a very late goal for the USA - in injury time at the end of the match - gave them a 1-0 win and it is they who progress through to the Last 16 with England. They also finished top of the group, albeit on goal difference after finishing level on points with England. It is the first time ever that the USA have topped a World Cup group.
In the Last 16, England will play the team who finished top of Group D and the USA will play the team who finished second in Group D. That group contains Germany, Ghana, Serbia and Australia.
Jermain Defoe the hero as England raise their game to book place in last 16
By Sportsmail Reporter
23rd June 2010
Daily Mail
2010 World Cup
England 1-0 Slovenia
Defoe 23
Final Group C standings
...................P.....W.....D.....L.....F.....A.....Points
USA..........3......1......2......0.....4.....3........5
England...3.....1.......2.....0.....2......1........5
Slovenia...3.....1.......1.....1.....3......3.......4
Algeria......3.....0.......1.....2.....0......2.......1
Other result: USA 1-0 Algeria
England and USA go through to the Last 16.
England put a week of World Cup turmoil behind them as Jermain Defoe's winner sealed their place in the knockout stages
The Tottenham striker nudged home the first-half winner that propelled the Three Lions into the last 16.
But Landon Donovan's injury-time winner for the United States against Algeria meant the outcome was not exactly what England wanted.
Finishing second in the group, Fabio Capello's men will now meet the winners of Group D - possibly Germany - in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon. It also leaves them in the same quarter of the draw as Diego Maradona's Argentina.
Settling the nerves: Defoe pounces to put England ahead in the first half of the crunch clash with Slovenia
But the main thing is they are still there, and Capello can at least look back on the result with satisfaction, given his decision to select Defoe above the non-scoring talents of Emile Heskey.
Yet, there was so much more to cherish. With the notable exception of Wayne Rooney, who did not look impressed to be replaced by Joe Cole, and the fact their goals difference read only one, England found themselves again, producing all the verve and fire their manager knows they are so capable of.
Days of rancour gave way to the sheer exhilaration of seeing a team play in the manner of old and though their profligacy ensured there were some nervy moments to survive before victory could be achieved, in the end they made it.
Satisfaction: England striker Defoe celebrates marking his first start of the World Cup with a goal
The men who combined to give England that crucial, crucial goal were both exorcising a personal ghost. It has almost been forgotten it is so long ago but right at the beginning of England's World Cup, Defoe was a starter for Capello.
Hauled off after a goalless 45 minutes against Andorra in Barcelona, Defoe was condemned to the role of impact substitute for the remainder of the qualifiers, admittedly scoring three times in the process. Milner's wound is much fresher.
England were unrecognisable today, not only because of their far superior performance compared to their previous two performances in this World Cup, but because they were wearing all red - red shirts, red shorts and red socks. It is the first time since 1995 - in a 3-1 defeat to Brazil - that England have worn all red. The only time previously that they have worn it at a World Cup was in the 1962 World Cup in Chile when England drew 0-0 against Bulgaria.
Always a Capello favourite, the Aston Villa man was asked to plug a hole on the left of England's midfield for the opening encounter with the United States.
Given a right old chasing by Carlos Bocanegra, the 24-year-old was hauled off after half an hour and must have wondered if he would see any more action in South Africa.
Standing room only: An animated Fabio Capello is up off the bench shouting instructions to his England player
Capello is intensely loyal though. Deciding he needed more solidity defensively than Aaron Lennon can provide, the Italian turned to Milner for the right-sided role. His early contribution was riddled with mistakes.
But the cross he swung deep into the Slovenia box midway through that opening period was almost Beckham-esque. Defoe had made his way into the danger zone, like any instinctive marksman would, got just in front of Marko Suler and stuck out his leg, prodding the ball goalwards with enough power to get it past Samir Handanovic, who did nearly make a save.
It had taken Defoe 23 minutes to achieve what Heskey had managed once in eight years; a competitive goal. Visibly, the pressure lifted from English shoulders.
So close: The frame of the goal came to Slovenia's rescue as Rooney almost doubled England's lead
The high-tempo, quick passing, tigerish pressing game Capello had yearned for, and which temperatures of a South African winter suit so well suddenly appeared, and so did the opportunities.
Frank Lampard and skipper Steven Gerrard had the first couple before half-time, the Liverpool man knowing he would have scored if he had put more power behind a side-footed effort that failed to beat Handanovic after a hitherto quiet Rooney had provided the superb square ball.
Capello cut a frustrated figure when, eight yards out and completely unmarked, Defoe made no contact after Barry had lofted a pass into a Slovenia penalty area in a state of confusion thanks to some selfless running from Rooney.
John Terry brought a brilliant save out of Handanovic when he rose to meet Barry's corner at the far post before Rooney struck the base of a post after his unchecked run into the penalty area had been spotted by Lampard.
Stepping up: Terry played his part at the back
Frustration: Gerrard missed a chance in the first half
It was sumptuous fare lifted directly from the Premier League, the kind of football that prompted Capello to make his 'crazy' claim that England could reach the final of this grand and prestigious tournament in Soccer City on July 11.
In a week for apologies and forgiveness, the England supporters responded by showing they bore no hard feelings for Rooney's rant in Cape Town by chanting his name with gusto, although on the second occasion it was for their talisman's exit - unhappily - to make way for Joe Cole to make his long-awaited bow.
USA's 1-0 win against Algeria means that they finish top of a group in the World Cup for the first time ever.
Amid the euphoria at finding a team, one fairly large problem was being overlooked. England's lead remained stuck at one and could so easily be snatched away.
Had first Terry, then Glen Johnson, not thrown themselves in front of Slovenian shots, the smallest country in the tournament would have had their equaliser and England would have been out.
For Slovenia, events elsewhere would give them cause for huge regret.
For England, pride was restored - and a sigh of relief could be breathed.
ENGLAND'S ALL-RED KIT FOR SLOVENIA MATCH
England will take the unusual step of wearing an all-red strip for the crunch match with Slovenia.
England have historically worn red shirts with white shorts and red socks as an away strip option, occasionally going for navy blue shorts when white ones have clashed.
But with Slovenia wearing all white and nominated the 'home' team at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday, England are going for the rare all-red option.
It is believed the only time they previously wore it in the finals was at the 1962 World Cup in Chile, where they drew 0-0 with a poor Bulgaria side who had already been beaten by Argentina and Hungary.
The result that day - the first-round final group match - was enough to see England scrape into the knock-out phase on goal average, but a repeat on Wednesday would not be sufficient.
England are first thought to have worn the strip in a friendly against Peru in 1962, which the Three Lions won 4-0.
The same kit was used in Bobby Moore's first game as captain in 1963, a 4-2 win against Czechoslovakia.
They won against Belgium 3-1 in all-red back in 1970, but had no such luck against Brazil in 1995, which ended in a defeat by the same scoreline.
Apparently the current squad of players prefer the red shorts option to navy blue and anything that makes them happy at the moment is a boost.
England goes football crazy!
By Wil Longbottom
23rd June 2010
Daily Mail
- England win through Jermain Defoe goal in the 23rd minute
- Shopping centres and streets virtually deserted during match
- Schools closed early or erect big screens on playing fields
- England could now play Germany on Sunday in the next round
- Glastonbury broadcast game on Pyramid Stage screens
Millions of fans had downed tools to watch the crunch game against Slovenia and went through the traditional rollercoaster of emotions as England desperately held on to their lead.
It sets the stage for a mouth-watering weekend as England could face their nemesis Germany on Sunday in the second round, depending on other results later tonight.
Company time: Employees at Phoenix Life Assurance celebrate in a marquee at the company headquarters in Birmingham
On edge: Pupils at a school in Wakefield watch on as the match between England and Slovenia unfolded
England expects: Thousands at Glastonbury watched the match on a giant screen
Goal! The Glastonbury crowd go wild as England score the first goal against Slovenia
Celebration: England fans watch the match on big screens in Manchester City Centre
Shopping centres and busy routes were deserted, while public transport and city centres were eerily quiet as an expectant nation held its breath during a nervy encounter.
England had to win the game to have any chance of progressing in the tournament, and Jermain Defoe gave them the perfect start in the 23rd minute against Slovenia.
Cities including Bristol, Manchester and Newcastle showed the action on big screen as fans gathered to cheer England on.
We did it: Jermain Defoe celebrates his winning goal on the pitch while England manager Fabio Capello hugs Wayne Rooney as the final whistle goes
But fans in Richmond, London, were left in the dark after a power cut prevented them from watching the game.
Power firms were expecting a surge in demand for electricity as many people left work early for the 3pm kick-off.
In Birmingham, two crown court juries were allowed to halt their deliberations while the match took place.
And some councils gave employees the option of using flexi-time or holidays to watch the game.
A spokesman for the Judicial Communications Office said: 'A number of judges in courts in England and Wales have, at the request of jurors, started proceedings early today in order to finish in time for the England World Cup match this afternoon.
'With the early start and shortened lunch breaks there will only be a minimal impact on court business.'
But troops in Afghanistan had to wait to see the action.
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said servicemen and women were involved in a 'vigil ceremony' at Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, to remember recent casualties of the conflict.
He said troops not required for operational duties would be able to watch a recording of the game about an hour after it finished.
There were fears of mass absenteeism and employers were being encouraged to let staff go early to watch the match.
Schools had also made special arrangements to either close early or put up giant screens in playing fields so pupils would miss none of the action.
England took a 23rd minute lead after Jermain Defoe scored from a James Milner cross from the right wing.
Manager Fabio Capello made three changes to the England team - bringing in striker Jermain Defoe, midfielder James Milner and centre back Matthew Upson.
That meant there was no place for Emile Heskey, Aaron Lennon and the suspended Jamie Carragher.
England fans leaving the stadium felt the team had finally got their World Cup campaign under way.
Dan Thomas, 30, a sales manager from Guildford, Surrey, said: 'It was an excellent game. We defended well, passed well, it was a completely different performance.'
Adam McManus, 32, from Balham, south London, said: 'It was a much better performance, we showed a lot more spirit.
'They looked like they were a football team whereas they didn't last time. They looked like they believed in themselves.
But they kept us on the edge of our seats and we should have scored more goals.
'Onwards and upwards.'
An emotional England coach Fabio Capello was full of praise for his players.
'We played together, fight together and I am really, really happy for the result,' he told BBC 1.
'This was the team that I know.
'This team can go forward. All the team the coaches, their mind is free.
'We can go forward without fear, without everything.'
He said he was now going to cancel his ticket home to stay for the next match.
Derek Zackon, 50, from Carshalton, south-west London, said: 'It was a nervous start but they got the job done.
'The whole country must have been on the edge of their seats for the last 15 minutes.'
Following representations from pupils, Kevin Moody, headmaster at Oakwood Park Grammar in Maidstone, Kent, has agreed to let children at the all-boys school leave at 2pm instead of the usual 3.25pm so they can get home in time for the kick-off.
In a letter to parents, he said: 'Our feeling is that it is a sensible course of action which will ensure learning is not disrupted by other distractions.'
Some local authorities are allowing staff to use their flexi-time to watch the match.
The Local Government Association said it would depend on the job, as a community support officer on shift was a different matter to someone working in the post room.
'If you look at it from a common sense perspective, you can make arrangements so an employee can make time up later in the week, that's a reasonable approach,' a spokesman said.'It's finding a balance between what everyone wants to get out of it, watching England win, and ensuring services continue as normal.'
Football fans heading to Glastonbury Festival will be able to watch the make-or-break match on the Pyramid Stage screens.
Should England qualify for the knock-out stages, their last-16 games will also be shown live at the festival.
But Wimbledon will not be showing the match as organisers refused to relent on its World Cup ban despite fears fans could snub the event in favour of England's footballers.
Military personnel serving in Afghanistan will not be able to watch the match live, the Ministry of Defence said, but a replay of the game would be shown on the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS).
Troops in more remote locations, without satellite TV, would be sent a DVD later, the MoD added.
Heathrow Airport has installed extra screens in each terminal so that travelling fans will not miss the action.
Jubilation: Fans at Broadwater Sports Bar in Worthing, West Sussex, celebrate as Defoe scored
Support: Thousands of fans gather to watch the game on a screen in Castlefield, Manchester
Downed tools: A city worker's screen in London has the England match over financial data
Tumbleweed: The centre of Newcastle is virtually empty as the England match gets underway
Intent: Two workers at Foxs Stores in Pimlico, London, watch the match on an iPad
Call to arms: An England fan blows on a vuvuzela as crowds begin to gather in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Rapt: A member of backroom staff at Wimbledon catches the game on a small television
We'll take them on the beaches: England fans lay out their flags in the beach of Port Elizabeth before this afternoon's match
Prime seat: A lone fan watches the match on a screen in Chatham, Kent
Empty streets: Buses in Haymarket in central London wait at stops - but no one seems to be getting on while England take on Slovenia
Car-free zone: The A47 Norwich, the main road that runs through Norfolk, is deserted during the match
Deserted: Just three shoppers browse stores in this shopping centre in Cambridge as millions watched the crunch game
At the races? Fans keep up to do at Salisbury Racecourse
Mane attraction: Stan Stanfield (left) and Dex Marshall pose with a police horse as England fans prepare for today's game against Slovenia in Port Elizabeth
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