The hopes of an expectant nation are resting on the shoulders of the England football squad, as fans rise early and begin a day of celebrations ahead of the Three Lions' historic Euro 2020 final against Italy tonight - their biggest match in almost six decades.
Millions of England fans will be sporting reds, whites and blues in their living rooms and in pubs across the country, with 60,000 supporters expected to cheer on Gareth Southgate's men at Wembley in the side's first major final since the 1966 World Cup win.
The Three Lions have been showered in praise, with the Queen, Prince William and Prime Minister Boris Johnson all rallying the players. Thousands of supporters urging the side to 'bring it home' on Twitter, with some revealing they're so excited they didn't sleep last night.
The British Beer & Pub Association predicts England fans will buy 7.1 million pints on Sunday, while over the weekend an estimated £750million is expected to be withdrawn from cash machines - up 12 per cent on the same period a year earlier, according to ATM network Link.
In a welcome economic boost, by the end of the competition, it is estimated that £815million will have been spent in pubs and hospitality venues, with 32.6 million pints sold, a report by Vouchercodes.co.uk and the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) said.
A number of schools have already said they will allow pupils to start later on Monday if they wish to and some employers are considering letting staff enjoy a celebratory - or consolatory - lie-in after what could be a very late night.
The final - which is expected to attract a record television audience of 35 million - is due to kick off at 8pm and will finish by 10pm if it ends in normal time, but could end closer to 11pm if there is extra time or a penalty shootout.
The official England Twitter account posted this morning: 'A matchday like no other' - sparking a flurry of excited and anxious messages. One expectant fan wrote: 'Massive day ahead, first final for @England in my lifetime. Wherever you're watching it, whatever your plans are, enjoy! Proud of the squad and what they've done so far, but they can lift that trophy!'
Another said: 'Today is the day! The sun's out, enjoy it, embrace it, soak up the atmosphere!! The excitement, the nerves, the butterflies in the stomach. Go mad!! Who knows when or if this day will come again! #ItsComingHome'.
One tweeted: 'Been up since 5am cos of today. Couldn't sleep at all! C'mon @England #ItsComingHome #ENG' - with another writing on Twitter: 'Morning everyone, anybody got any sleep last night or feeling nervous ahead of #ITAENG #ItsComingHome Come on #ENG @England'.
Across England, fans have been savouring the run-up to a game that could see the country crowned champions of Europe. Houses have been bedecked with flags amid a surge in demand for England-themed paraphernalia and the Shard in London was lit up in the team colours.
Residents on Wales Street, in Oldham, Greater Manchester have even patriotically renamed their road in honour of the Three Lions - England Street, with a new red-and-white sign erected above the original.
A good luck message from David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds - who are behind the anthemic Three Lions (Football's Coming Home) - has been projected onto the white cliffs of Dover ahead of the match.
London's transport network will display digital well wishes across the capital, visible at Tube stations, the DLR and London Overground as well as at bus stops and on road traffic alert signs.
England captain Harry Kane said his team hopes to do the nation proud in their bid for Euro 2020 glory. He told reporters at a press conference last night: 'We want to go and bring the trophy home' - adding: 'We know how much it means to the English fans all over the country so we're proud to be representing them and hopefully we can do them proud again.'
The Queen paid tribute to the 'spirit, commitment and pride' of the squad in a good luck message ahead of tonight's final, while her grandson the Duke of Cambridge said it is 'so exciting' to get to this point.
In a video message to be posted later on Sunday, Football Association president William said: 'I can't really believe this is happening. So exciting and I just wish you the very best of luck. You bring out the very best of England and we are all behind you. The whole country is behind you. So, bring it home.'
The Prime Minister told Southgate and the players they had 'already made history' by reaching the final, writing: 'You have lifted the spirits of the whole country, and tomorrow we know you can lift that trophy too. We are not just hoping or praying.
'We believe in you, Gareth, and your incredible squad.'
As the nation rallies behind the England football squad, it emerged:
Gareth Southgate will receive a knighthood if England win but will be awarded a CBE regardless of the result; David Baddiel and Frank Skinner are banned by UEFA from performing Three Lions at the start of the match because it would be 'unfair' to Italy; Southgate reveals he 'couldn't stand' the It's Coming Home refrain for 15 years after his penalty miss in 1996 ; The England manager urged fans not to boo the Italian national anthem, saying it could inspire them; Harry Kane revealed Tom Cruise FaceTimed the England team on Friday night to wish the players luck; UEFA fined England £26,000 after a fan shone a laser into the eye of Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel before Harry Kane's penalty in the semi final; Euros fever has delivered a £3.4billion spending spree on partying, drinking, souvenir merchandise and supersize TVs, analysts said; The NHS is braced for a surge in heart attacks as the stress of watching football takes its toll on the nation's health; Ministers have been told to stop using the phrase 'It's coming home' – a reference to the England football anthem Three Lions – because it annoys other countries.
The official England Twitter account posted this morning: 'A matchday like no other'
Thousands of supporters urging the side to 'bring it home' on Twitter, with some revealing they're so excited they didn't sleep last night
England's Harry Kane, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Euro 2020 soccer semifinal match between England and Denmark
Gareth Southgate (pictured) has urged the nation to 'stop looking at the negatives of our own country' because 'England has so much to be proud of' ahead of the Euro 2020 final
As many as 35million people are set to cheer on the Three Lions against Italy in the final of Euro 2020 in the fervent hope that Harry Kane will follow in the golden footsteps of Bobby Moore and lead England to glory. Pictured: The team celebrating their semi final win on Wednesday
England fans partied in Leicester Square on the eve of the final as they settled any pre-match nerves with a drink in the centre of London
The Queen (left) congratulated Gareth Southgate and the England players for reaching the Euro 2020 final and praised their 'spirit, commitment and pride', while Boris Johnson praised the 'band of brothers' (right)
In her written message, the Queen recalled presenting the Jules Rimet trophy to Bobby Moore after England beat then West Germany in the World Cup - almost six decades ago.
She said: 'Fifty-five years ago I was fortunate to present the World Cup to Bobby Moore and saw what it meant to the players, management and support staff to reach and win the final of a major international football tournament.
'I want to send my congratulations and that of my family to you all on reaching the final of the European Championships, and send my good wishes for tomorrow with the hope that history will record not only your success but also the spirit, commitment and pride with which you have conducted yourselves.'
The squad are thought to have watched the as-yet unreleased sequel to Top Gun as they spent Friday night together. Before the screening, they were called by its star Tom Cruise, who delivered a good luck message.
Southgate last night said he was focused on 'bringing the trophy home', adding:
