2.2 million Brits may call in sick after England's 1am match Monday

Millions of British football fans are preparing to call in sick on Monday morning after England's late-night clash against Mexico.

Thomas Tuchel's squad powered into the final 16 after a last-minute Harry Kane double against DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday.

The match kicked off at a UK-friendly 5pm, but Monday's clash starts at 1am, with as many as 70% of Brits planning to stay up late to watch, according to new research from tech firm Honor.

Fans do not seem deterred by late starts and are prepared to go to extreme lengths to follow every nail-biting moment of the tournament, with 6.4% of workers prepared to call in sick.

With a UK workforce of 34.4 million, that would mean 2.2 million faking an illness on Monday morning.

And for those who aren't prepared to pull a sickie, getting some rest will be a challenge. More than half say they struggle to sleep after a match, with the average fan lying awake for nearly 40 minutes.

To help people get a good night's rest, Honor has partnered with Dr Sophie Bostock, also known as The Sleep Scientist, to launch the Fan Cool Down.

This science-backed five-step routine helps fans go from wired to asleep in around 10 minutes.

Step 1: Put on calming music to create a calming ambience

Step 2: Stretch your body to ease tension and improve circulation

Step 3: Calm your breathing with guided exercises on a smartwatch like the Honor Watch 6.

Step 4: Journal your thoughts and focus on the positives

Step 5: Let your brain wander with cognitive shuffling - picking a word and then visualising a random scene associated with each letter.

According to Dr Bostock, fans are not just kept awake by the late hour.

"As a nation, we massively underestimate the physiological impact of watching a tense football match late at night," she said.

"If you passionately care about the outcome, your body reacts in a similar way to being on the pitch - your adrenaline spikes, heart rate elevates, and you become fired up and ready for action.

"Without a deliberate cool-down routine, fans will simply lie in bed replaying the match rather than recovering from it. The Fan Cool Down is designed to promote your body's natural recovery process and gives fans similar help players get from a post-match cool down."

The research also found that fewer than one in four bosses offer flexible working to accommodate late kick-offs, with half of Brits expecting to go to work after a late-night game if they haven't booked time off (33%).

Danny Holden, UK PR manager at Honor, added, "The data paints a stark picture of what the summer of football does to sleep and Britain's working week - and most people have no plan beyond an extra coffee or faking illness or meetings to catch up on sleep.

"Professional athletes have always known you have to cool down to switch off after a big game. We're delighted that Sophie has made that same philosophy available to fans across the country, with the Honor Watch 6 to help track their body's transition from match-day stress to sleep."

The Sleep Scientist's Four Tips for Better Sleep

1. Tactical shower time: If you shower in the evening, could you schedule this before the game? A warm bath or shower (40°C to 42.5°C) one to two hours before bedtime can help you fall asleep faster. The gentle heat draws more blood flow to the skin, allowing your core temperature to drop rapidly afterwards.

2. Reset Your Environment at Half-Time: If you're watching the game at home, half-time is your secret weapon. Use the break to set yourself up for sleep before the second half begins. Dim the overhead lights, tick off any quick jobs you'd otherwise be thinking about at midnight, and if you're feeling committed, change into your pyjamas and brush your teeth.

3. Don't Just Sit There: If you know you're in for a sedentary evening on the sofa, it's worth building in some small movement breaks. Research has shown that doing just 3 minutes of gentle exercise every half hour can improve sleep quality later in the night.

4. Check In With Your Body After the Final Whistle: Before you begin winding down, take a moment to check your heart rate on the Honor Watch 6. After an exciting match, your body can still be running higher than you'd expect - even if you feel like you're ready for bed. The goal before you get into bed is a simple one: bring it down.

The Honor Watch 6 boasts an ultra-long 35-day battery life, smart heart-rate monitoring, and a dedicated 'professional football mode' for fans inspired to get on the pitch. It is available in Twilight Brown and Shadow Black for a limited-time offer of £169.99 (RRP £249.99). Find out more here: https://www.honor.com/uk/wearables/honor-watch-6/