Kick it off: how to host the best World Cup party for the England v Croatia semi-final

Make sure you're ready to welcome football home in style.

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England have reached the World Cup semi-final for the first time in 28 years, but Gareth Southgate's lads aren't the only ones under pressure — as anyone hosting a home viewing party knows.

It's a big game, with hopes and expectations running high, so if you're brave enough to have offered (or should we say sacrificed?) your pad to your friends, you'll want to make sure it's a night to remember for the right reasons, whether Harry Kane gets one goal closer to the Golden Boot or not.

Predictably, the shops are awash with football-themed paraphernalia, from paper cups and plates adorned with the St George's Cross to bean bags resembling giant footballs and customisable floor cushions designed to look like your favourite player's shirt.

Much of this can be bought for less than a tenner, so you can add a touch of patriotism into proceedings on a shoestring.

Dedicated hosts have been Googling how to set up a big screen and projector for a cinematic experience.

Such commitment can be costly if you don't already have the gear, but there are some good lower-end options available that may appeal to smaller budgets, such as the QKK 2200 Lumens LCD Projector, currently £65.99 in the sale (note that it connects to devices with the HDMI output but an extra cable is required for smartphones and Macs), and the Henzin 100-inch PVC Projector Screen for both indoor or outdoor screenings, priced at just £26.99.

Not willing to splash out on a 'proper' projector screen? Try making your own with a white bed sheet, two eyelets, a couple of screw-in hooks and some PVC piping.

Simply cut the sheet to your desired size, insert one eyelet at each top corner, sew the piping into the bottom edge to help the screen hang flat, screw hooks into your ceiling…and ta da! You'll be the proud owner of a DIY home cinema to enjoy all summer, even after football's finally come home.

Flick through the gallery above for our best buys to help you score the party of the year.