Tens of thousands of England fans were on Friday heading to Berlin ready to roar on the Three Lions in Sunday’s Euro’s final showdown with Spain.
They are travelling to the German capital by road, rail and air to back their team buoyed by the increasing belief England can make history and win the tournament.
But they face rocketing costs for accommodation and soaring airfares with most flights already sold out.
Supporters who do not already have a ticket are unlikely to be able to get one, with the game sold out on Uefa’s website and only a limited number of tickets available to England Supporters Travel Club members who have been to previous England games.
Tom Concannon, of the Football Supporters’ Association, said he expected fans to travel in large numbers despite the difficulties.
He told Good Morning Britain: “We’ve probably estimated about 20,000 to 30,000 at each game so far and it wouldn’t be surprising to see those numbers go up. We’ve seen already a lot of people talking back home about wanting to come out and join the party.
“It’s a massive occasion for England, the first final on foreign soil and people just want to be a part of it.”
Up to a million fans will line the streets of London if England win the game with plans for a victory parade already prepared with the team set to be honoured by the King and the royal family if they defeat Spain and claim the trophy for the first time.
A massive open-top bus parade would take the team from Guildhall, in the City of London, to Buckingham Palace via Trafalgar Square on Tuesday.
Two days of celebrations would begin on Monday with the team lined up to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer — who is expected to attend Sunday’s final — at Downing Street.
A royal reception, likely to be headed by Prince William, president of the Football Association, has also been pencilled in for Monday.
There would not be a parade if Spain, who go into the match as favourites, defeat England.
A victory royal event would have echoes of the England rugby team winning the World Cup in 2003, when they went to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen. In 1966, the Queen presented the World Cup trophy to England captain Bobby Moore at Wembley stadium.
But the Prime Minister has refused to bow to demands for an extra bank holiday in the event of victory. Sir Keir said he did not want to “jinx anything” by pre-empting Sunday’s result but he did suggest there would be some form of celebration if England wins its first major men’s football tournament since 1966.
