Lidl and Sainsbury’s have joined Tesco in amending store hours, following the Three Lions winning the semi-final Euro 2024 match against the Netherlands.

Tesco is to close more than 1,800 Express stores in England at 7:30pm on Sunday, instead of its usual closing time at 10pm or 11pm to allow staff members to go home or to the pub in time to watch the final, The Independent reported.

Tesco said that employees will still receive their usual pay for the hours, while employees who do not want to watch Sunday’s England vs. Spain game will also be paid as usual.

The change will not affect colleagues in Tesco’s superstores, as these will have already closed before the match starts at 8pm.

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The Express stores will remain open during the day on Sunday until 7:30pm, and will be open as usual on Monday (15 July).

All online orders placed for Sunday evening will also go ahead and will not be affected by changes to store hours, while closing hours in stores in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will remain the same.

Speaking before yesterday’s (11 July) semi-final match, Tesco managing director of UK stores Kevin Tindall told the publication: “We will be cheering on the Three Lions tonight against the Netherlands and hope they reach a second successive Euros final.

“We appreciate just how much this would mean to so many of our colleagues, and we want them to be able to celebrate with their family and friends.

“So, if we make it through to the final, we will close our stores across England in time for them to get behind Gareth Southgate and the team, and we’ll all be hoping that football will be coming home.”

Sainsbury’s will also be closing convenience stores and petrol filling stations across England early on Sunday so that its colleagues can tune into the Euros 2024 final.

Like Tesco, over a thousand Sainsbury’s branches will be closing at 7:30pm, rather than the usual closing times of 10pm or 11pm.

However, the stores will remain open on Sunday to allow customers to stock up on essentials and supplies for the game, and any online grocery orders which have already been booked for after the 7:30pm time will be honoured.

Sainsbury’s chief retail and technology officer Clodagh Moriarty said: “We want to give our colleagues the chance to tune in live and cheer on England with friends and family.

“The atmosphere in stores is electric after last night’s win and everyone is working hard across the business to make sure our customers can find everything they may want for the match.”

All branches will reopen at their usual time on Monday.

Meanwhile, Lidl will be opening all stores in England an hour later than usual the day after the final (Monday 15 July), regardless of the match outcome.

The adjustment to the discounter’s store opening hours looks to allow colleagues to enjoy post-match celebrations.

Lidl GB CEO Ryan McDonnell said: “We know how much this game means to England fans, and we want to ensure that our colleagues have the chance to celebrate such a significant moment in English football history.

“We couldn’t achieve our goals without our colleagues, so in recognition of their hard work and dedication, this move will allow them to join in the excitement and show support for the England team, and we wish them the best of luck for the big game.”

Regular hours will resume the following day on Tuesday 16 July.