As England's men's football team secures a spot in the Euro 2024 final, Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket chain, has announced plans to close its Express stores early on Sunday, 14 July.

The decision comes after England's semi-final victory over the Netherlands, setting up a showdown with Spain in Berlin.

More than 1,800 Tesco Express stores across England will shut their doors at 7:30 pm, rather than the usual 10 pm or 11 pm closing time. This move will allow thousands of Tesco employees to watch the historic match, which kicks off at 8 pm. Staff will receive their regular pay for the hours affected by the early closure, regardless of whether they choose to watch the game.

Kevin Tindall, managing director of UK stores at Tesco, said: "We appreciate just how much this would mean to so many of our colleagues, and we want them to be able to celebrate with their family and friends."

Tesco has reassured customers that stores will operate normally during the day on Sunday, providing ample time for pre-match shopping. Online orders scheduled for Sunday evening will be fulfilled as planned. The retailer's larger stores, which typically close earlier on Sundays, will not be affected by this change.

Stores in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland will maintain their regular hours.

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