Will it be “All English no flannel” brown ale Double Maxim on one side or Anna’s fruity hoppy ale Swedish Blonde on the other in a game of two halves.

There has been much friendly banter at the Maxim Brewery’s base in Rainton Meadows, near Houghton-le-Spring brewery where managing director Mark Anderson named one of his beers after Swedish employee Anna Görans-Dotter Bell.

The former England hockey international said: “When Anna joined in 2009 we wanted pale ale and said we would make a blonde beer and named it after her, with her face on the pump. It is one of our most popular beers now.

“Until England got through the next stage of World Cup we were saying it would be great if our teams could meet up. It will be quite good for fun with us cheering for opposing team.”

Anna said: ““I have been watching every match. I thought Sweden were going to be out in the group stage. I think it’s going to be 2-1 to Sweden.”

Mark added: “I think it is going to be a draw at full-time. I think England are going to take it in extra time, just through the pace and the youth that they have got.

“It is going to be a tight game. Both sides are equally matched. There has been a lot banter about the language, trying to understand the Swedish language and how to pronounce their country name, Sverige.

“We won’t be watching it together, but there will a few texts going between us on the day.”

Mark will be eating fish and chips and while Anna will be having meatballs.

He said: “We hope it’s a good game and the best side will win. I’m sure there will be no cheating or hands of god come into it.”

Whoever loses noone will be left bitter, with both promising to support the other team.

Anna said: “I have been living here for 21 years, but still cheer for my team. If they lose I’ll be supporting England for the rest of the World Cup.”

Mark said: “If we lose on Saturday, I would rather see someone like Sweden win the trophy in, knowing that if we had beat them we would have been very close.”