Temperatures are forecast to be 27-29C in Samara for the quarterfinal between England and Sweden.GETTY IMAGES
Samara, the venue for England’s quarterfinal match, has been "hit by a record-breaking heatwave" in recent days, and the match is likely to be played in temperatures "significantly warmer than those at England’s training base" outside St. Petersburg, according to Shaun Walker of the London GUARDIAN. On Tuesday, temperatures there reached 36.5 degrees Celsius (97.7 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking a temperature record for the city set in '54 and "causing problems with water pressure." By Thursday, the temperature dropped to around 30C (86F) but on Saturday afternoon, when Sweden and England will kickoff at 6pm, it is still forecast to be 27-29C (80.6-84.2F). The hot, sunny weather will be a change for the England squad, "much warmer than the chilly, drizzly evening in Moscow" for the last-16 match against Colombia (GUARDIAN, 7/5).
FREE T-SHIRTS: In London, Jack Rosser reported World Cup fever "grasped" the nation after England's penalty shootout win over Colombia. Should the team "go all the way," Sports Direct Owner Mike Ashley is "ready to make things just that little bit sweeter." He said on Thursday that Sports Direct will give away free "2018 Winners" England shirts to every fan who downloads the Sports Direct app. A Sports Direct spokesperson said, "Mike knows the whole country will go potty if Gareth Southgate's boys go all the way. ... The only limit on how many we can give away will be how fast we can get them printed" (EVENING STANDARD, 7/5).
TEA BREAKS: STUFF reported cricket leagues in England have "come up with unique solutions" in order to accommodate England's quarterfinal against Sweden. The match starts at 3pm on Saturday in England, which for the majority of cricket leagues across the country "falls in the closing stages of the first innings." Some leagues decided to allow for earlier starts and longer tea breaks "just so football fans can tune in for the football at the innings break." Other leagues, like the Ribblesdale Cricket League, announced the postponement of all matches on Saturday (STUFF, 7/5).
