Hurst and Atkinson guests

Sir Geoff Hurst and ‘Big Ron’ Atkinson will once again be the special guests at the Movenpick Hotel, Ibn Battuta Gate, today evening as England take on Italy in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.

The legendary English duo were among the 400-strong contingent at the hotel’s Al Bahou Hall on Tuesday night as the Three Lions booked their last-eight spot as Group D winners with a 1-0 victory over co-hosts Ukraine.

There, they – along with professional commentator Jim Rosenthal and Dubai TV personality Tom Urquhart – provided live commentary throughout the game, as well as half-time and post-match analysis.

They’re set to do so again on Sunday evening for England’s ‘Italian Job’ in Al Bahou – a spectacular, courtyard-style Moroccan venue that has been converted into a mini stadium, complete with artificial pitch and two gigantic (3mx4.5m) screens with plenty of football-friendly beverages and food to boot.

“The atmosphere was electric; the uproar chants from the fans when England scored was almost deafening,” ‘Atkinson said.

“England supporters are now eagerly awaiting the match against Italy, which is bound to be another nail-biter.”

Andrew Hughes, the director of sales and marketing at the hotel, commented: “We are already receiving advance bookings for the England match today.

“We had around 400 fans watching the Ukraine match and we expect an ever larger turnout for the game against Italy. “Al Bahou is a great venue for large-scale events. It really is a unique setting.”

To book your seat for the quarter-final, readers can contact the Movenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate restaurant reservations team on: 04-4445613 or email: restaurantreservations.ibnbattuta@movenpick.com