Football fans will be dancing the night away, or crying into their beers, as pubs are set to stay open late tomorrow for the much anticipated Euro 2024 final.
New Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has allowed pubs to stay open until 1am as Southgate’s side battle it out against Spain on Sunday evening.
She explained that licensing hours had been eased as the final is of ‘exceptional national significance’.
Ms Cooper said: ‘We’re so proud of and the England team. It’s right that we can all come together tomorrow to enjoy the match and – do we dare to dream?! – hopefully celebrate an England victory.
‘I want to pay special thanks to the police officers and first responders who will be working across communities to keep us safe. I look forward to getting behind all our brilliant players, who bring so much pride to our country, and I want to wish the team the best of luck. Let’s bring it home.’
Fans sit on deck chairs with drinks in the Euro Fan Zone near Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
England fans cheer near a drinks stand in Berlin’s Euro Fan Zone
New Home Secretary Yvette Cooper beams as she enters Downing Street which has been decked out with English flags ahead of the match
The good news follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling for a bank holiday if England win Euro 2024 to ‘mark the occasion’, although he said he does not want to ‘jinx it’.
Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick when England won the 1966 World Cup, has launched a Change.org campaign urging King Charles III to grant a bank holiday if England become European champions.
Bank holiday or not, football fanatics have taken to boozers up and down the country – and abroad – ahead of the match on Sunday.
After England defeated the Netherlands with a last gasp Ollie Watkins goal, thousands of supporters have flocked to Germany in a last ditch attempt to watch the Three Lions in the final.
Tickets for the showpiece event are now selling for £2100 minimum, whilst budget airlines like Ryanair saying they are completely sold out on all planes to Berlin until after the tournament.
British Airways also reported a 1000 per cent increase in searches for flights after the match and are now scrabbling to put on extra journeys, albeit at inflated prices.
After getting to Germany, prices are even worse, with Berlin’s Hilton Hotel demanding 1425 Euros for Sunday night when the match is played. The next night the price drops to 136 Euros.
As the first of a possible 50,000 fans begin arriving on German soil, it was revealed that the players’ families are struggling to find a route to Berlin.
At least one member of the squad’s family has decided to drive to Germany because they cannot get a flight, while other haves inquired about hiring a private jet – only to be told there are no landing slots available.
More frugal England fans will be watching the match from boozers in the UK, which are now set to stay open until past midnight, while others are heading to Benidorm to make the final a ‘derby’.
Despite being in enemy territory, Benidorm has become a hotspot for Brits who can’t get out to Germany with hundreds of fans making their way to the popular suntrap on flights as cheap as £179 on EasyJet.
England fans proudly hold flags in front of Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
A female England fan shows off her impressive football skills to a crowd in Germany ahead of the final
The fan, wearing an England shirt, lies on the ground as she performs tricks with the football
Mike Armstrong and son Rowan from Exeter arrive in Germany ahead of the Euro 2024 final
England fans arrive at Berlin Central Train Station ahead of the final on Sunday
Two England fans navigate the streets of Berlin on e-scooters
One fan wears the kit with pride as he arrives in Germany, making sure to give a thumbs up to the camera
Fans ready themselves to cheer on the Three Lions in the Euro 2024 Final by arriving in Germany days before the much-anticipated match
Coach Gareth Southgate signs autographs in Germany ahead of the Euro 2024 Final against Spain
With flights to Berlin sold out, fans have opted for the train. This trio arrived at Berlin Central Train Station on Friday
A group of England fans stand in front of a mural of Jude Bellingham in Berlin
A young family pose in front of the mural of England’s star midfielder in Germany
Another Bellingham fan wears a replica shirt in front of the Brandenburg Gate
England fans in Benidorm drink while wearing England football regalia
The England squad celebrate after defeating the Netherlands in the semi-final on Wednesday
Taking to social media, fans expressed their excitement at ‘retaking’ Benidorm following the final whistle if England triumphed.
One X user declared: ‘England vs. Spain. The winner keeps Benidorm.’
Another said: ‘Benidorm will look like the last days of Rome on Sunday.’
One man joked: ‘A sensible country would airlift British citizens out of Benidorm before Sunday.
‘Either result guarantees a reasonable amount of rioting.’
The excitement is equally as palpable at home – with fans already showing their pride by wearing the Three Lions strip ahead of Sunday’s match.
Even King Charles has shown his support for England by proudly holding up England football shirts alongside actor Idris Elba.
It has been confirmed that his son, Prince William, will fly to Germany for the final – in his capacity as President of the Football Association.
Residents of Kirkby Estate in London has certainly got the memo, decking their balconies out with hundreds of England flags.
Downing Street has also made an effort to show support for Southgate’s side, with flags and decoration framing the iconic black door.
King Charles (right) shows his support for England by holding up a football shirt alongside actor Idris Elba (left) – who seems to be a fan of Bukayo Saka
Prince William is a big football fan and is set to be in attendance at the final. The Football Association’s President celebrates Saka’s goal against Switzerland on July 6
The Prince of Wales congratulates Trent Alexander-Arnold following the tense penalty shoot-out in the quarter-final match between England and Switzerland
England fans celebrate at Box Park in Croydon in their England kit
Men in bucket hats pose for the camera as they gear themselves up for the game in London
Fans react to England’s goal during the semi final against the Netherlands on July 10
A woman in an England football shirt jumps with joy as her pal, sporting England themed sunglasses, holds his drink up in celebration
Fans celebrate the last gasp goal from Ollie Watkins on July 10
A last minute goal from Ollie Watkins (pictured) secured Southgate’s side a place in the final
Kirkby Estate in South London show their English pride ahead of Sunday’s final
Residents decorate their balconies with English flags to show their support for the team
The iconic door at 10 Downing Street is framed by English flags ahead of the final against Spain
The new Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his chosen Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will have plenty to celebrate come Sunday – even if England lose.
England’s success in Germany so far has provided a much-needed shot in the arm for the economy.
Research for Argos carried out by the Centre for Economic and Business Research shows that England making it to their second successive Euros final will end up boosting consumer spending by £2.4 billion in the UK.
Fans are expected to splurge £488 million in the four-day build-up to tomorrow’s match alone – around a third of which will be spent in pubs and other hospitality venues.
Trade body UK Hospitality said England’s performance in the tournament would see the entire sector benefitting from an overall sales increase of £800 million.
And those who intend to stay in to watch will also do their bit to boost the economy, with supermarkets seeing a spike in food and drink sales.
Tesco expects to sell nearly 800,000 packs of sausages and more than 1 million pies this weekend – as well as 4 million packs of beer and cider, while John Lewis predicts the ‘biggest barbecue weekend of the year’.
Sales of televisions, decorations and partyware have also contributed to the economic boom, while bookies have seen an increase in customer activity.
Keir Starmer (left) with his wife Victoria at the Euro 2020 Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium
And on matchday itself, British Beer And Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said pubs could serve an incredible 10 million extra pints as fans gather to watch the match in bars and beer gardens.
She added: ‘A huge £48 million in additional trade for pubs and breweries will be generated by fans across the nation.’
It’s no wonder Yvette Cooper is so keen to keep the pubs open until 1am.