Keir Starmer has hinted that an England World Cup triumph could be marked with an extra bank holiday as excitement continues to build ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final against Norway.
The Prime Minister was full of praise for England’s dramatic last-16 win over Mexico and suggested supporters may have even more to celebrate if Thomas Tuchel’s side can go all the way in North America.
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PM praises England’s Mexico comeback
England booked their place in the quarter-finals with a memorable win over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Monday.
Speaking at the Nato summit in Ankara, Starmer described the performance as one of the finest he had seen from the national team.
“It was one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Asked whether he would support a national bank holiday should England lift the trophy on July 19, the Prime Minister stopped short of making any promises but did little to dampen speculation.
“I don’t want to jinx it, but ask me again if we get to the final,” he said.
With the World Cup final scheduled for a Sunday, it is understood that the following Friday is viewed as the most likely date for any potential celebratory bank holiday.
Starmer also revealed he had resisted calls to follow the example of United States President Donald Trump, who successfully pushed for FIFA to review Folarin Balogun’s suspension earlier in the tournament.
“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,” he said.
“I hasten to add, I haven’t attempted to do that.”
Friendly rivalry ahead of Norway showdown
England face Norway in Miami on Saturday with a place in the semi-finals at stake and Sir Keir admitted his relationship with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store will briefly be put on hold.
The pair met during the Nato summit, where the Prime Minister jokingly reminded his counterpart of England’s World Cup history under Labour governments.
“I’m a good friend of his,” Sir Keir said.
“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.”
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