ENGLAND and Wales fans will be serenaded by pop legend Chesney Hawkes during their World Cup clash.
The Home Nations sides will collide this evening in the final and pivotal round of Group B fixtures in Qatar.
But the mood will be lightened by a half-time show from Hawkes – who will be performing in his first stadium show in nearly THIRTY years.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, The ‘One and Only’ star said: “They asked me to do it, what am I gonna say?
“This is the first stadium gig I’ve done in 30 years.”
Hawkes, 51, added: “I’m a little nervous, but I’m just more excited.
“It’s just the one song and no guessing for what song I’m going to do. I could probably sing that song in my sleep.”
Footy fans were left baffled by Hawkes’ planned show, with one saying: “Just heard [Jordan] Henderson to play and Chesney Hawkes to play at half time just about sums [Gareth] Southgate up.
Another said: “So Chesney Hawkes will be performing #IamTheOneAndOnly before the #BattleOfBritain #ENGWAL this evening.
“Surely things can’t be that bad for him!”
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And another said: “Chesney Hawkes performing at half-time in an England – Wales World Cup match in Qatar in 2022 sounds like an amusing throwaway detail someone would put in a 90s cyberpunk novel set in the future.
England will bid to finish top of Group B with a victory over the Welsh at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan following a lacklustre draw against the USA last Friday.
Hawkes said of England’s campaign so far: “It’s a game of two halves really, isn’t it?
“Because the first game we kind of made them look like a pub team, and it was amazing.
“We came out after that game like ‘wow, we’re gonna win the World Cup.’
“The second game, obviously a very different game. Felt like we’re playing for a draw.
“It was kind of very subdued in a way but maybe that’s the gameplay from Gareth [Southgate].
“You know, it was just kind of play for that draw, just don’t get anyone injured.”
Three Lions chief Gareth Southgate has made four changes to the side that drew a blank against the USA.
Southgate has opted to hand starts to Kyle Walker, Jordan Henderson, Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford for the Battle of Britain with the Welsh.
