If England's footballers beat Argentina to reach the World Cup final on Sunday July 19, Tesco will close its Express stores in Scarborough, and nationwide, at 7.30pm, instead of the usual 10pm or 11pm.

The early closure would allow colleagues from the Castle Road and Burniston Road stores to watch the final, which kicks off at 8pm.

It means Tesco staff will have time to get home or to the pub in time for kick-off, while still receiving their normal pay for those hours.

As the match falls on a Sunday, Tesco’s larger stores in England will already be closed by the time the match kicks off.

Scarborough's Tesco Express stores will shut early on Sunday July 19 if England reach the World Cup final.

placeholder image — Scarborough's Tesco Express stores will shut early on Sunday July 19 if England reach the World Cup final.

All stores will then reopen as normal the following morning.

Express stores will still be open as normal during the daytime, so fans can stock up on pre-match supplies.

Customers needing last minute essentials will also still be able to place orders with Whoosh until 11pm.

All online Grocery Home Shopping orders already placed for Sunday evening will be honoured and delivered as normal.

If England don’t reach the final, stores will open and close at their normal times.

Kevin Tindall, Managing Director UK Operations, Tesco said: “We appreciate just how much this would mean to so many of our colleagues, so if England make it through to the final, we will close our Express stores across England in time for all colleagues to be able to celebrate with their family and friends.”