Sleep-deprived Starmer talks of English pride after watching Mexico game with his son

Sir Keir Starmer is “incredibly proud to be English” after England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico overnight, which will take the team into the quarter-finals of the Football World Cup.

The Three Lions defeated Mexico in a 3-2 thriller and the game was delayed an hour from the first kick-off at 1am, meaning fans who stayed awake didn’t go to bed until 4am.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister watched the game last night and stayed up. He watched it upstairs with his son in the Downing Street flat and has had a bit of a sleep deprivation this morning, but he is incredibly proud of the team and incredibly proud to be British after this performance.”

“He has seen England play for years, but this morning’s victory, high and high in the heat of the Azteca Stadium and against the host nation, was up there for him as one of England’s best ever performances.

“He’s looking forward to Saturday’s quarter-final.

“For days to come, the St George’s Cross will hang high and proud above No. 10 and Downing Street will look magnificent with its St George’s Day bunting in the July sunshine.”

Fans who stayed up until 4.30am to watch England take part in the World Cup quarter-final were said to be “pulling sick” as dawn broke on Monday morning.

Speaking outside Wembley Stadium in north-west London after watching the match at Boxpark Wembley, 29-year-old Ollie, who did not want to reveal his surname, joked that he would be “very sick” when he had to go to work in a few hours.

“And luckily my manager is also sick,” he told the Press Association.

“Victory would be a long time coming,” he added.

It comes after Early Education Secretary Olivia Bailey urged children to go to school this morning even if they are “a bit sleepy” after watching England’s World Cup clash with Mexico late at night.

He told Times Radio: “I would definitely encourage children to go to school this morning.

“They might feel a bit tired but it’s going to be a good day at school and it’s really important that they get in there because every day is important at school, even if you’re feeling a bit sleepy and of course it’ll be nice to celebrate with their friends too because what a great result it was.”

“You may feel a bit tired, but it’s also important to learn that resilience because there will be many more days at work where you feel a bit tired and you’ve got to get through that and still learn,” he told Sky News.