Euro 2020: Counting down to England-Denmark as 60,000 supporters arrive at Wembley
Sunshine has broken through the clouds for the first time on Wednesday as Denmark supporters wearing Viking horns took selfies with rival fans clad in England flags.
Hundreds of people have gathered outside Wembley Stadium in north-west London ahead of the teams’ semi-final clash at 8pm.
Dozens of police are patrolling the perimeter, as England supporters jumped on tables and chanted “it’s coming home” and “God save the Queen” while booing Denmark supporters.
Workmates Ian Turnbull and Craig Bell were dressed as knights outside Wembley Stadium and had travelled more than 250 miles from Blackhall, near Hartlepool, in the North East to see the game, despite not having tickets.
Mr Turnbull, 34, a cable joiner, said: “We can’t get tickets so we have just come to soak up the atmosphere, as you do.
“It’s exciting – we’re going to win 2-0 from Sterling I think, or 2-1.
“Either way, we are going through to the final and we are going to win because it’s coming home.”
Mr Bell, 29, also a cable joiner, predicted England to win 2-1, and added: “It’s coming home.”
The pair said they would watch from nearby pubs as close to the stadium as possible.
An England fan has spoken of being “nervous but optimistic” ahead of the game against Denmark.
Sam Ryan, 28, who works in IT, travelled from Winchester in Hampshire to attend the fan zone in Trafalgar Square.
He said: “I’m feeling nervous but optimistic, which is a strange sentence for an England fan.
“Usually you’d look back at Croatia a few years ago or Germany in 1996 and think we can’t get over the line in semi-finals, but this time just feels different.
“It’s effectively a home tournament really, it’s ours to lose – the stars seem to have aligned well.
“I really can’t wait to hear the atmosphere and join in the chants – I love the Southgate one, it’s terrific.”
Fans who have gathered in Trafalgar Square ahead of England’s Euros semi-final match have spoken of being “dead nervous”.
Kane Lycett, 31, from Bermondsey, south London, who is watching in the Uefa fan zone, said: “I love and hate football at the same time, occasions like this just aren’t enjoyable at all, it’s torture to be honest.
“It reminds me so much of the Croatia game in the World Cup in 2018, everyone was on a high and looking ahead to the final and we got beat.
“I’m not sure what will happen if we concede, we’re not used to it having been so defensively strong the whole tournament.
“Listening to me is probably enough to send any England fan over the edge, I’m dead nervous.”
Hundreds of football fans have flooded the Olympic Way route to Wembley Stadium chanting “it’s coming home” and “Southgate you’re the one”.
Droves of supporters clad in England flags and the occasional Denmark Viking swarmed towards the London venue three hours before the match is due to start.
England supporter Jo Andrews, 36, a property manager from Portsmouth who was wearing an England hat and face paint, said she was “absolutely excited” to be there.
She said: “We are definitely going to win tonight – 3-1.
“This is our turn, this is our chance and we are going to win tonight and we are coming back Sunday.”
When asked if she thought captain Harry Kane might score again, she said: “I’m not sure but I’m hoping so.
“As long as they pass to him he will definitely get it in the goal.”
England fans without tickets for the Uefa fan zone in Trafalgar Square have gathered in the area to avoid “missing out” on the atmosphere.
Jack Robbins, 22, a scaffolder from Dagenham, east London, who was wearing a retro England shirt, said: “You have to be around people for games like this, watching the game at home wouldn’t be the same.
“I can’t be missing out on this, drinking beer, chanting and watching the game, what else is there?
“Even if I can’t be in the official part, I’ll make my voice heard.”
Another fan, Luke Hughes, 19, a student from Watford, said: “I’ve seen the scenes on social media of everyone chanting and singing in London after the game has finished – there is no way I am missing that.
“I think it will be a tough game, maybe decided on one goal, but if we win, this place will be electric. It’s coming home.”