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LONDON - An England World Cup win could mean an extra bank holiday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hinted ahead of a quarter-final clash with Norway.
Starmer hailed Monday’s win over Mexico as "one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen” and victory over Norway would take them a step closer to a first World Cup triumph in 60 years.
Asked whether he would back a bank holiday if England managed to win the tournament, Sir Keir told reporters at Wednesday’s Nato conference: "I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final.”
With the final taking place on Sunday, July 19, it is thought the following Friday has been earmarked as the most likely date for a celebratory bank holiday.
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom (UK) and some other Commonwealth countries on which most businesses, banks, government offices and many schools are closed.
During his time at the Nato summit in Ankara, Sir Keir exchanged banter with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store, reminding him England only won the World Cup under a Labour government.
He told reporters: "I’m a good friend of his. The Norway-UK relationship is as strong as it’s ever been and he’s a key individual in the coalitions that we’ve been building.
"But for 90 minutes on Saturday evening, we’ll have to go our different ways as we go into that match.”
Sir Keir also said he had resisted calls to attempt to overturn Jarell Quansah’s red card against Mexico, after Donald Trump persuaded FIFA to suspend United States (US) player Folarin Balogun’s suspension to allow him to play against Belgium.
He said: "I can’t tell you how many messages I’ve had to rescind the red card that we received in the early hours of Monday.
"I hasten to add, I haven’t attempted to do that.” - BERNAMA
TAGS: football, World Cup, England, Prime Minister Keir Starmer
