Revenge! London celebrates win

RESULT: ENGLAND 1-0 ARGENTINA

For four years they had waited for the chance to avenge the misery of defeat by Argentina in the last World Cup and now the explosion of elation that greeted England's victory was almost tangible. It was the dream of every England fan come true.

Hundreds of fans spilled out of the Sports Cafe and held an impromptu street party in the Haymarket. They danced and sang in the road, halting the afternoon traffic - which replied by sounding horns, not in anger but in joy.

Hordes of fans moved on to Trafalgar Square where they jumped in the fountains and waved flags in the style of celebrations after the 1966 World Cup win.

Brian Green, 27, a computer programmer from Barnet, said: "This is better than beating Germany - it feels like we've won the World Cup already."

The Sports Cafe had been filled to capacity with 570 fans filling every nook and cranny since nine o'clock in the morning.

A sea of white and red filled the room as every England anthem from God Save The Queen to Vindaloo rung out.

A profusion of Mohican haircuts and flags worn as Beckham-style sarongs attested to the England captain's status as the country's greatest player.

But the man who masterminded the win was not forgotten and "Sven Goran Eriksson la la la la la" sung to the tune of Brown Girl in the Ring could be heard among the chants of "Engerland, Engerland".

The game began in an atmosphere of almost unbearable tension. But when Owen hit the post midway through the first half, hands were clutched to heads with a ferocity that could only mean rattled woodwork.

When Gonzalez's nose was blooded by an elbow from Beckham, the cheers were a reminder that the history between these two teams made this more than just a football match.

But this was nothing compared to the reaction to the England captain's thunderous penalty. Beckham's double clenched-fist salute and lion's roar was echoed by every hand and every throat in the bar.

As England held on for victory, there was a growing sense that this was a team that could beat the best in the world. With every completed pass, every well-timed tackle, and every save from David Seaman a great cheer went up that said "we can do it". As the final whistle blew, the stiflingly hot bar erupted and every sweaty fan embraced his sweaty neighbour and punched the air, which was filled with flags of St George.

This was a day when nothing was going to get in the way of football - least of all work.

Fans used every means possible to avoid turning up for work. Some booked a day off months ago, some phoned in sick, others simply didn't bother to go into the office.

Rob George, 29, a mobile phone salesman from Bournemouth, said: "I haven't phoned into work to say I won't be there - I've just taken the chance. I'll deal with it on Monday when I get back. Now that England have won, I feel I can face anything."

Fans were queuing round the block from 6.30 in the morning to get into the Sports Cafe, and continued to wait outside even after the doors were closed - optimistically hoping that the bar's one-in-one-out policy would get them a glimpse of the action.

Gareth Hughes, 18, an account manager from Basingstoke, had come up with his friend Dave Chambers, 24, a customer service rep. He said: "We've had the day off booked since February."

Another fan inside, who did not want to be named, said he had called in sick because he couldn't bear to tear himself away from the action.

The 26-year-old shop assistant said: "I asked for the day off and they said no. If they don't believe me then I didn't like the job much anyway."

But one fan found a way of going to work and watching the football at the same time. Gavin Hodges, 29, a sales manager for stationery suppliers Office Depot, had brought his team of salesmen to the bar as a reward for their excellent performance.

He said: "We are watching the football and being paid for it at the same time, which is just about perfect.

Now that England have won, they will all get off the blocks on Monday morning with the wind in their sails and it will be good for the company. I just think this will be so good for the whole country." Virtually every pub and bar in the City was taken over for ticket-only corporate events, while even jurors in a rape trial at the Old Bailey were given the vital two hours off by the judge.

? Chiltern Trains cancelled eight services into Marylebone because of "driver shortages" and Connex South Eastern experienced what was called "disruption due to short-term sickness".

? AA Roadwatch said all roads leading into London this morning were "ridiculously quiet" compared with the normal rush-hour jams, including those notorious commuter routes, the M25 and M4.

? The Centre for Economic Research predicted £750 million in lost output, while the Institute of Directors said that the "feelgood factor" of England's win would soon see any losses made up.

Some of the capital's biggest events included financial company Bloomberg's 1,000-strong gathering in Finsbury Square, where staff and City clients watched on a giant cinema screen.

Event manager John Smith said: "When we announced that we would be handing out 50 tickets to watch the England-Argentina game to the general public, there was a queue around the block for them. They went in less than two minutes."

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