Schools stage fresh intervention after Thomas Tuchel demands kids are able to watch England at 1am

Pubs are open until 5am on Monday morning so England fans can watch Thomas Tuchel’s side face Mexico in the World Cup.

Now a number of schools are taking matters into their own hands so kids can stay up for the last-16 clash.

Getty

The match in the Azteca Stadium will not kick-off until 1am.

It therefore means the earliest it is likely to finish is 3am. Should there be extra-time, penalties or weather related delays it could be even later.

Speaking to the media after the Three Lions’ dramatic 2-1 win over DR Congo on Wednesday, Tuchel urged parents to let their children tune in.

“Write an excuse for school and let them watch football. They have so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years,” he said.

“Let them watch, there will be a big, big match in four days and we need the support of everyone and especially of the children.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer relaxed licensing legislation to allow pubs to stay open until 5am.

However, no such mandate has been directed at schools. Instead it will allow each educational establishment to use their own discretion.

A number have already revealed later start times on Monday morning.

Schools allowing late arrivals on Monday

• Purwell Primary School (Hitchin, Hertfordshire) – registers will remain open until 10.30am.
• Castle Hill Primary School (Basingstoke, Hampshire) – students can arrive from 9.30am instead of the usual 8.35am start.
• Greenland Primary School (County Durham) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am.
• Bloemfontein Primary School (County Durham) – registers will remain open until 10am.
• Burnhope Primary School (County Durham) – pupils will be able to arrive up until 10am.
• Berwick Hills Primary School (Middlesborough) – pupils can arrive any time until 10am.

What has the government said?

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Parents will make their own decisions… We want everyone to enjoy the game, but children should be in school on Monday.”

Getty

However, skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith was not as keen on Tuchel’s suggestion.

She said: “I don’t want to be a killjoy here, but I’ll tell you what the biggest killjoy is – young people who then don’t have the learning to be able to go on and do what they need to do in life.

“I’ll be having a little disco nap in the afternoon and I’ll be celebrating our victory the next morning when I go into work, looking obviously as fresh as a daisy.”

Will talkSPORT hosts be letting their kids stay up?

It’s bad news if you are one of Gabby Agbonlahor’s four kids.

The former Aston Villa man has already told the nation on talkSPORT Breakfast that they will be going to school on Monday.

Ex-England striker Gabby Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: “Are you going to sort out childcare when we have to go to work, Thomas?

Getty

“But who’s going to sort childcare? They’ve got to go to school, mate.

“Kids have got to go to school. They need to get their education.

“You’ve got to work yourself and you’ve got to say, oh, Thomas Tuchel said, don’t go to work.”

When asked if he’d let his kids watch the game, Gabby added: “No, one o’clock? They’re in bed. 

“Go to school. School work is more important.”

talkSPORT will have live coverage of the match with Adrian Durham, Jim Proudfoot and former England captain Stuart Pearce.

Tune in to talkSPORT through the website via the live stream or find us on DAB digital radio through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Download and listen to all our live commentaries via the talkSPORT app.

Visit talkSPORT BET for all the latest odds and bet boosts for every big event.

Subscribe to our talkSPORT YouTube channel for news, views and analysis plus our regular goals show and for more, follow us on talkSPORT Facebook and talkSPORT X.