Game on! England's World Cup matches will be shown on big screen in Leeds

Here's some champion news for football fans who want to sample the big match atmosphere that comes with the World Cup but don't fancy the idea of travelling out to Russia.
Fans pack into Millennium Square for an England game at the 2006 World Cup.Fans pack into Millennium Square for an England game at the 2006 World Cup.
Fans pack into Millennium Square for an England game at the 2006 World Cup.

England’s games during the tournament will once again be shown on the giant screen in Millennium Square in Leeds, it was confirmed today.

A spokesman for Leeds City Council told the Yorkshire Evening Post that all of the side’s three guaranteed group fixtures will be shown in Millennium Square.

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And, should Gareth Southgate’s men progress further into the competition, then their knockout games will be given the big screen treatment as well.

Thousands of supporters have flocked to Millennium Square to watch the Three Lions in action during past international tournaments.

England’s matches were originally shown on a temporary screen during the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.

A permanent screen in front of the site’s Carriageworks arts complex was switched on for the first time in late 2005.

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Bars, food stalls and musical entertainment have been organised for previous matches over the years, with the council’s wider plans for the forthcoming screenings due to be announced shortly.

The feast of football will form part of a busy programme of events taking place in Millennium Square over the summer.

Music stars such as Plan B, Tony Hadley, The Pretenders, Bananarama and Simple Minds are all performing in July and August while the so-called ‘people’s patio’ – officially opened in 2001 by Nelson Mandela – will be hosting the ITU World Triathlon Leeds on June 10.

England kick off their World Cup campaign with a match against Tunisia on June 18.

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Their other two group stage games will see them face Panama on June 24 and Belgium on June 28.

The tournament’s knockout rounds begin on June 30, with its final taking place on July 15.

Host nation Russia will get proceedings under way on June 14 with a game against Saudi Arabia.

England’s build-up to the World Cup includes a friendly against Costa Rica at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground on June 7.

It will be the first time the Three Lions have played at the stadium since 2002.