Euro 2024 final day began with a hearty ‘build your own butties’ continental breakfast at the Loginn hotel near Berlin airport, over which we planned our day ahead.
We jumped on the S-Bahn, right opposite the hotel, and headed for Potsdamer Platz, via a combination of U-Bahn trains. There we found a nice surprise, the England team coaches, as the team had been staying at the Ritz hotel in the square.
Then it was like playing Monopoly on the U-Bahn system again to find the FA Fan’s Embassy in Breitscheid Platz, near to Kurfurstendamn U-Bahn station. This was in full swing around midday with the England fans in full voice, warming up for the match nine hours later. We collected the special final edition of the Free Lions magazine and had our first metric pint of the day. No rain had been forecast but we were treated to a few showers, which did nothing to dampen our spirits.
Next we decided to go sightseeing and headed for the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Tor (Gate), via the S-Bahn from Zoologischer Garden to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and a short walk across the River Spree. The area was already buzzing with both England and Spain fans and others from all over Europe, and indeed the world.
The Brandenburg Tor was cordoned off as they had created a massive Fan’s viewing area in the Tiergarten. The England fans were in full voice on the Unter den Linden.
As the sun was beating down, and we had already got our steps in for the day, it was time to find somewhere to rest and fight the dehydration. We managed this in the Sarti bar, a delightful little restaurant bar on the banks of the River Spree. The Bitburger Pils tasted so good, so good, so good, Sweet Caroline!
Around 5pm, we got the S9 train out to the Olympiastadion. Even at this time, the train was packed. In the queue to get in, we got talking to some Canadian fans, who had come over for the final, in preparation for their co-hosting the next World Cup in 2026. We were also chatting to German fans, who were getting behind England.
They let us into the stadium at 6pm, when the mobile tickets were Bluetooth activated. As it was time to eat, I settled on a Bratwurst and a metric pint of Bitburger Pils while my friend, Shaun, tried the meatballs on a bun, which turned out to be a burger in disguise.
We got good seats in the stadium, well away from the aisles, where all the well lubricated fans usually accumulate. However, there was a glass screen alongside our seats, which was completely full of England flags, completely obscuring our view of half of the pitch! Thankfully, the fans responsible, realised what they had done and came and took the flags down, so we ended up with a great view.
The atmosphere was fantastic as UEFA began their closing ceremony before the match. Music, dancing, fireworks and flame throwers abounded.
Both teams came out to a tremendous welcome and the French referee tossed up to decide the kick off and ends, blew his whistle and the final was under way.
Spain were soon into their all-action play with their players swarming all over England. Spain are so good at retrieving possession after they lose it, but we held our own in a decent first half with Jordan Pickford having little to do. Half time came and we were still in it.
However, within two minutes of the restart, that all changed as Nico Williams caught us napping to fire them ahead. Pickford earned his keep several times before we fought our way back into it, when Cole Palmer scored with a great shot, and for the next 10 minutes or so, it looked like we had them on the rocks. Two headers were saved on the line, but Spain rallied like the good team they are and broke England hearts with two minutes to go.
Disappointed as we all were, everyone recognised Spain were the better team and had deserved to win. Congratulations to them on being worthy winners of Euro 2024.
It’s been a marvellous tournament, held in the best of spirits, bringing fans together, leaving us with many magical memories.
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