FOOTIE FEVER
England fans already in the party spirit as 50k flock to German capital ahead of Euros final & glam drinkers don flags
One trio of pals set off on an epic trip after a joke at the pub
England fans are in the party spirit as 50,000 flock to the German capital ahead of the Euro 2024 final.
Berlin is teeming with Three Lions shirts as tens of thousands of supporters down pints while waving England flags.
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Iconic sites including the Brandenburg Gate and Friedrichstrasse have seen England fans arrive bearing the St George cross, showing their national pride in hopes their team will become Euro champions.
One supporter, sporting a red England shirt, showed off her own skills with a football beside the gate.
Others took selfies or raised their arms with glee as they were photographed holding St George cross flags and wearing Three Lions merchandise ahead of the game.
Some were seen enjoying a drink in the sun at the Reichstag Euro 2024 Fan Zone.
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While many people are taking sensible routes to Berlin to arrive in time for the match, three England fans from Stoke-on-Trent are taking an unusual approach after a joke in the pub escalated.
Pals Ryan Brooks, 31, Ashley Nicklen, 30, and Jordan Kelly, 29, set off at 2am today so they can be in the German capital for Sunday night's huge showdown with Spain.
The trio were watching the Three Lions' semi-final win over the Netherlands in Ricardo's at Stoke City's bet365 Stadium when they joked about travelling out for the final to sample the atmosphere.
Ryan, from Etruria, told Stoke-on-Trent Live he thought nothing more of it until he woke up the next day to a message off his two mates telling him to book time off work because they were going.
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Manchester United fan Ryan and Potters supporters Ashley and Jordan are making the near five-hour drive to Dover to get the boat over to France.
That hour-and-a-half boat journey will be followed by around 10 hours on the road travelling through France, Belgium, Holland and eventually Germany.
England stars put through their paces in final training session before Sunday's Euro 2024 final v Spain in Berlin
The boys will spend two nights in an Airbnb and aim to get a spot in the Berlin fan zone for the big game.
Ryan, who works for Vodafone, said: "We've been to the local pubs to watch all the games and were in Ricardo's when we joked about going over for the final. Jordan was the one who suggested it.
"I woke up after the semi final victory to a message from them saying we're going and to get work off. So I spent the day frantically trying to get the time off.
"Thankfully my manager sorted it for me.
"Jordan looked at flights and they were charging as much one-way as it has cost us for the whole trip.
"We've paid about £230 to £240 and that includes the ferry and an Airbnb in Berlin.
"I'm the lucky one as I don't drive so Ash and Jordan will be switching between them.
England's route to the Euro 2024 final
ENGLAND began their Euros final campaign in Germany on June 16.
The team topped Group C despite only winning one match.
But that's all behind them now as they prepare to take on Spain in the final on July 14.
Here's their route to the final:
June 16 - vs Serbia: England win 1-0 with a goal from Jude Bellingham in the 13th minute.
June 20 - vs Denmark: Ended 1-1 after Harry Kane's 18th minute strike was cancelled out by Morten Hjulmand.
June 25 - vs Slovenia: The match ended goalless but England topped the group with five points.
June 30 - vs Slovakia: In the last 16 clash Jude Bellingham saved England from being knocked out with a 91st minute equaliser. In extra time Harry Kane secured the win for the Three Lions.
July 6 - vs Switzerland: The quarter-final ended 1-1 after extra time with Bukayo Saka's reply to Breel Embolo's strike. England won 5-3 on penalties.
July 10 - vs Netherlands: Another last gasp goal - this time by Ollie Watkins - saw England head into the final against Spain. Harry Kane scored from the spot to cancel out Xavi Simons' 9th minute goal.
July 14 - vs Spain: England are in their first final on foreign soil and will be hoping to see off the challenge of Spain who won the Euros in 1964, 2008 and 2012.
"We set off about 2am for the ferry around 8am.
" We're going to watch the game in the fan zone. The aim is to get there early enough that we can make our way to the fan zone.
"Fingers crossed it's not too jampacked. I had us down to reach the semi finals so I'm just excited that we've got to the final again."
When asked whether he thinks the Lions will win, Ryan said: "That's a tough question!
"We've come off the back of a final so we can handle the pressure and Southgate is coming to the end of his contract so hopefully the players will want to do it for him.
"Those are two elements that could push us to victory but it's going to be tough as Spain have played phenomenally."
Russ Cook, known as the Hardest Geezer,claims to be the first individual ever to run the entire length of Africa.
However, the 27-year-old, from Worthing, West Sussex, says a “flare up” of an old back injury means he is unable to run to the final on Sunday.
He posted on a message on social which said: “I’m just going to enjoy this one like a normal human being."
The Worthing man added: "Absolutely buzzing they’ve made it to the final. One more game to make history."
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It comes as England stars were put through their paces for the last time ahead of the Euro 2024 final.
The Three Lions are hoping to end their 58-year wait for glory against Spain.
Before the players head to Berlin for the final, the athletes prepared at their luxury base in Blankenhain.
All 26 members of the squad were in full training.
It gives Gareth Southgate a selection decision to make at left-back after Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier played half the game each in the semi-final victory over Holland.
Trippier has been nursing a calf strain and Shaw is yet to play over 45 minutes at the tournament so far.
Once training is over, England will leave Blankenhain and head to Berlin at 3:30pm.
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They are set to travel to the German capital by coach - not plane.
The team plan to arrive in Berlin at 6:30pm.
And Southgate and his skipper Kane are set speak to the media at a press conference at 7:45pm.
Ahead of the game, a passionate Southgate said: "In the end, winning and what that means completely changes how you’re going to be viewed.
"I want to win so much on Sunday it hurts.
HOW TO WATCH THE 2024 EUROS FINAL
THE Euro 2024 final will take place on Sunday, July 14
Kick-off will be at 8pm BST and The Olympiastadion in Berlin will host.
The Euro 2024 final will be broadcast live on both BBC One and ITV1.
All of the games at the European Championships have been aired on either BBC or ITV during the tournament.
You will be able to live stream the final for free on either BBC iPlayer or ITVX.
Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport's live blog.
"But I can handle whatever comes and I know it’s not going to change what the dog thinks when I walk back through the door.
“The margins are so fine and there are bits you can affect, others you are not going to affect.
“I would probably have felt differently about that three years ago, five years ago.
"But I’m in a different space now — and that’s a good thing because otherwise I’d have been in a mess these last five weeks.”
Russ Cook, known as the Hardest Geezer, claims to be the first individual ever to run the entire length of Africa.
However, the 27-year-old, from Worthing, West Sussex, says a “flare up” of an old back injury means he is unable to run to the final on Sunday.
He said: “I’m just going to enjoy this one like a normal human being."
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The YouTube star added: "Absolutely buzzing they’ve made it to the final. One more game to make history."
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