Steve Bull today urged England to lay the ghost of Italia ’90 to rest tomorrow when the nation will come to a standstill for the World Cup clash with Germany.

A record 25 million people are expected to tune in for the big game at 3pm amid sizzling temperatures on the hottest day of the year.

And Tipton Terror Bully, who played in Sir Bobby Robson’s team 20 years ago, said: “The England players are in for an amazing experience. This is the international equivalent of the Black Country derby with intense rivalry between the nations.

“But no matter how many times you play for your country, when you step out with those Three Lions on your shirt, the blood pumps through your veins like you would not believe. My advice to the players is to settle down as quickly as possible – and win.

“It’s so like 1990, it’s creepy but I’m tipping England to come through this time.”

Pubs, clubs and one-off events will be screening the big game, which is being shown on BBC1, with many arranging screens in sight of beer gardens. England’s brewers and landlords are expecting 4.5million extra customers to watch the game at pubs.

Mark Hastings, of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “Clearly the longer England stay in the World Cup, the better it will be for the pubs. That said, I think that the smart pubs will only have budgeted for the three guaranteed group games. It would have been foolish to look beyond that.”

The Met Office today said temperatures will hit 86F (30C) tomorrow afternoon and the good weather is likely to last well into next week. Supermarkets and off-licences were also reporting a roaring trade in beer and barbecue sales today.

Meanwhile, police have praised fans for their behaviour during the tournament.

Assistant Chief Constable of Staffordshire Jane Sawyers said: “Win or lose for England on Sunday, we are calling on fans to continue the good-natured atmosphere.”

Police in the West Midlands have led a zero tolerance approach to anyone involved in football-related disorder. “We have had very little trouble despite the roller coaster of emotions fans have endured through the group stages,” said Insp Howard Lewis-Jones.