Echo Comment: Should pubs open and kids stay up for England’s match?

It is good for publicans and it is good for the country that people should be encouraged to come together to wave the flag in a show of non-political unity

It may be a headache for police, but they should be able to respond to the wishes of the general public who pay their wages and only rarely get occasions to let their hair down.

Equally, the public should respond sensibly and respectfully to what could be a great and memorable occasion – the true tragedy of revelry is that sporting defeats coupled with excess alcohol lead to a rise in domestic violence and that can never be excused.

The other big question is should the kids be allowed to stay up and watch a match which may drag on to 4am?

School is important, even as term nears its end, and no child should miss lessons.

It is great to see innovative schools coming up with imaginative solutions, like showing the match in full before the first school bell.

We tend to agree with England’s German manager, Thomas Tuchel, when he said: “There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years – let them watch.”

One Durham school has told its pupils that this is a lesson in resilience – you may stay up late but you must be at your desk and you must find a way to do your work.

And that is the adult world. It is full of awkward choices and compromises, of finding ways to get things done, of pushing through until the work is done.

Judging by the frustrating way the team have been playing of late, you are going to need every ounce of resilience to watch this match through to the final whistle. C’mon, England!