England fans inside Germany stadium celebrate incredible first win of Euros 2024
An hour before kick-off a rainbow appeared over the stadium – ahead of England’s hunt for the pot gold, winning Euro 2024.
The atmosphere was incredible as England fans in high spirits unfurled hundreds of St George flags ahead of England’s first test. The flags, emblazoned with the names of football clubs and towns and villages, seemed to fill every bit of available space.
They came from across the country – from Barrow and Spennymoor to Redruth and Dover. Many of 40,000-strong army of Three Lions fans who flocked to Gelsenkirchen managed to get tickets for the game and England fans outnumbered Serbia’s by at least two to one.
There were a number of WAGs in the crowd including captain Harry Kane ’s wife Katie Goodland and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford ’s partner Megan Davison. And full-throated England fans made their presence felt as they bellowed their favourite anthems, including Don’t take me Home and Football ’s Coming Home.
England fans in a fan park near the ground ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match
They also taunted the Tartan Army by singing: “ Scotland get battered everywhere they go” to remind them of their team’s 5-1 thrashing by Germany on Friday night. When Jude Bellingham scored in the 13th minute fans belted out the Beatles’ Hey Jude. And in the 40th minute, when England needed a lift, there was a rousing rendition of God Save the King.
As the victorious England players left the pitch they waved to their loved ones who were sitting in the stand on the far side of the pitch. Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline rang out as England fans joyously joined in.
As fans streamed out after the game they spoke of their delight at the win and predicted England could go all the way. Driver Stephen Clayton, 53, from Stoke said: “We just needed the win It’s a great start to the tournament. There’s no reason we can’t go all the way to the final in Berlin. Perhaps this time football really will be coming home.”
England fans show their support prior to the match
Michael Charlton, 26, an electrician from Darlington, Co Durham, said: “It is brilliant but it is what most England fans would have expected before the game.” And Ashley Welburn, 28, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire said: “Just brilliant, a fantastic result, now it’s onto the next game.”
One England fan who survived 14 rounds of chemotherapy and an 11-hour spine operation got to watch the match.
Alex Zonneveld, 25, was bought a ticket after well-wishers heard of his gruelling battle with a rare form of bone cancer. He was diagnosed last year and he thought he had no chance of surviving.
Full-throated England fans made their presence felt
But he said the dream of making it to last night’s game was the one thing that kept him going. Alex, from Borehamwood, Herts, said: “I just made a decision that if I am lucky enough to make it through all this – and alive, then the first thing I’m going to do is get myself out to the Euros. Thanks to the generosity of the British public people managed to chip in and sort me out with one.”
Matthew Swailes, 47, from Bolton, Gtr Manchester, travelled with his girlfriend Sandra Millington, from Warrington, Cheshire. He has previously watched England play all over Europe and was in Germany for the 2006 World Cup. He said: “I think this is by far the best place for a tournament.
Megan Davison, wife of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, in the stands
“The Germans understand football and they know what they are doing. The transport is fantastic.”
Two Dorset schoolboys watched the game in a fan park after a mammoth 11-hour trip to support their heroes. Tommy Marsh, 10, and eight-year-old Theo Drayton were so excited just to be here. Their dads decided this was a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to come to a major football tournament so close to home.