England v Italy: Fans gather outside pubs and bars ahead of tonight’s Euro 2020 final at Wembley
Rule of six pints, please! So much for social distancing as fans pack pubs and spectator zones trying to secure the last few seats before kick-off
- Large crowds of England fans were this afternoon seen queuing outside pubs in London and in Brighton today
- Fans have also been partying in Boxpark this afternoon, ahead of tonight’s clash against Italy at Wembley
- Earlier thousands of fans waved England flags and cheered on Three Lions as they departed St. George’s Park
- The team have been based at the state of the art FA training grounds throughout the Euro 2020 tournament
- Supporters at the squad’s hotel cheered as each player stepped off their bright blue official England coach
- Fans are hoping for an historic night against Italy in what will be England’s first international final in 55 years
- Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here
Ecstatic England fans are tonight packing out pubs and bars across the country as the Three Lions prepare to take on Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
With hopes high of an England win at Wembley – ending a 55-year spell of hurt for Three Lions supporters – football fans are already out in force ahead of tonight’s crunch game.
The rush is now on for fans to take their seats ahead of the 8pm kick-off. Huge crowds have been pictured outside pubs in London and Brighton this afternoon, with little social distancing in sight.
And at Boxpark in Croydon, lucky fans who scored tickets in a ballot have taken their seats and ordered their rounds as they prepare to watch Gareth Southgate‘s men take on Roberto Mancini’s Azzuri side.
Even luckier fans with match tickets have also been knocking back drinks at Boxpark on Wembley Way ahead of tonight’s clash.
It comes as The British Beer & Pub Association predicts England fans will buy 7.1 million pints as they watch England’s first major tournament final since the 1966 World Cup.
By the end of the competition it is estimated that £815million will have been spent in pubs and hospitality venues, with 32.6 million pints sold, according to a report by Vouchercodes.co.uk and the Centre for Retail Research.
Huge crowds have gathered outside The Faltering Fullback pub in Finsbury Park, London, ahead of the England game tonight
Down on the south coast, a large group of England fans were seen gathered outside the King and Queen pub in Brighton, Sussex, ahead of tonight’s kick-off
It comes as The British Beer & Pub Association predicts England fans will buy 7.1 million pints as they watch England’s first major tournament final since the 1966 World Cup. Pictured: England fans party on Wembley Way this afternoon
By the end of the competition it is estimated that £815million will have been spent in pubs and hospitality venues, with 32.6 million pints sold, according to a report by Vouchercodes.co.uk and the Centre for Retail Research. Pictured: Fans arrive at Wembley Way earlier today
Fans were this afternoon seen climbing polls on Wembley Way as they partied ahead of England’s game against Italy tonight
Fans brought an inflatable unicorn – similar to that used by England players in team photographs taken earlier this week – to Wembley Way this afternoon
It was a messy scene in Leicester Square this afternoon, as fans climbed on to the entrance of the tube station, while litter was scattered over the ground
Fans in Newcastle (left) painted England flags on their faces as they prepared for kick-off at Wembley. At Boxpark in Croydon (pictured right), lucky fans who scored tickets in a ballot have taken their seats and ordered their rounds as they prepare to watch Gareth Southgate’s men take on Roberto Mancini’s Azzuri side
England fans were seen wearing lion hats – to represent the Three Lions – as they prepared to party ahead of England’s match against Italy tonight
One pub in Newcastle was packed out this afternoon as England fans rushed to take a seat ahead of tonight’s game at Wembley
Queues of England fans dressed in white and red were this afternoon seen queuing outside the Faltering Fullback in Finsbury Park, north London, this afternoon ahead of kick-off. The pub is around 12 miles east of Wembley Stadium.
Meanwhile, down on the south coast, a large group of England fans were seen gathered outside the King and Queen pub in Brighton, Sussex, ahead of tonight’s kick-off.
It comes as rowdy England supporters climbed on top of cars and busses around Wembley Stadium this afternoon.
Dozens of fans were seen on top of a stationary 206 bus as it attempted to make its way through huge crowds crossing the road on Wembley Way this afternoon.
Fans were also filmed setting off flares, including one at Victoria Station and several on Wembley Way.
In Piccadilly, which has become somewhat of an unofficial ‘fan park’ during the tournament, one fan was seen throwing himself off hoarding boards and into a waiting crowd below.
In Piccadilly, which has become somewhat of an unofficial ‘fan park’ during the tournament, one fan was seen throwing himself off hoarding boards and into a waiting crowd below
England fans in fancy-dress and sporting red and white set off flares outside Wembley Stadium ahead of the Euros final
England fans on top of a bus on Wembley Way outside Wembley Stadium ahead of the Euros clash against Italy
England fans climb aboard a bus outside the ground ahead of the UEFA Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium
Female England supporters clamber onto a bus on Wembley Way outside Wembley Stadium ahead of the Euros final
England football fans pose for photos on Wembley Way before the UEFA Euros final at Wembley against Italy
Football fans gather in Leicester Square and let off flares ahead of the Euros clash with Italy at Wembley
Football fans gather in Leicester Square turn over bins, wave flags, drink and let off flares ahead of the Euros clash
Lucky fans with match tickets have also been knocking back drinks at Boxpark on Wembley Way ahead of tonight’s clash
It comes as thousands of England fans lined the streets to cheer on the Three Lions as they made their way to Wembley ahead of tonight’s tie.
In footage shared by the official England Twitter page Saturday, rows and rows of supporters can be seen waving England flags and cheering on the squad as they depart from St George’s Park.
One player can be heard saying: ‘You’re all the best’, while another adds, ‘Did that just happen?’
The official England account tweeted: ‘Wow, what a send off.
‘Amazing scenes as the Three Lions depart St. George’s Park for the final time.’
England captain Harry Kane added: ‘Unreal send off. The support for the team has been incredible all tournament.’
The team have been based at St. George’s Park, around a 50-minute drive from Wembley, throughout the Euro 2020 tournament.
They have played every match at home apart from the quarter-final against Ukraine, which they won 4-0 in Rome.
Legions of fans were also seen waiting for the team as they arrived at their hotel.
Supporters erupted in cheers as each player stepped off the bright blue coach donning face masks and their official England tracksuits.
Meanwhile, Italy touched down at Luton airport before being taken to their hotel on their own team bus.
Legions of fans wave their hands in the air and cheer as the England squad makes its way from St. George’s Park to Wembley
The rows upon rows fans waved England flags and clapped as the Three Lions watched on from their coach in amazement at the support, as one player says: ‘You’re all the best.’
Fans draped themselves in the England flag and put their kids on their shoulders as they saw off the Three Lions squad on Saturday
Tyrone Mings exits the official England team coach to roars from dedicated fans as he arrives with the squad to their hotel on Saturday
Fans hold up their smartphones to take pictures and videos as the England coach arrives to the squad’s hotel on Saturday
Harry Kane arrives to the team’s hotel after tweeting: ”Unreal send off…The support for the team has been incredible all tournament.’
While they will have the crowd against them this evening, they are no strangers to Wembley, having played there twice so far this tournament.
Roberto Mancini’s side narrowly beat Austria in their first match in the UK capital before clinching victory over Spain in a penalty shoot out in the semi-final.
England fans are hoping for a historic night in what is the country’s first international final in 55 years.
The streets of London have already seen wild scenes Sunday with fans climbing atop buses and throwing drinks into the air.
Much like Wednesday, which saw England beat Denmark 2-1 to reach the final, the likes of Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus are jam packed with supporters.
