Euro 2020: England prepare to face Ukraine in last eight after victory over Germany
England fans in Oldham have already pinned their hopes on the national team lifting the Euro trophy, ITV News Reporter Ben Chapman reports
England are gearing up to face Ukraine in a Euro 2020 quarter-final clash after defeating Germany on Tuesday.
The Three Lions struck twice and secured their position among the last eight, just as fear began to creep in about another major competition exit.
Following goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, strains of 'Football’s Coming Home' echoed around Wembley.
It was England’s biggest match on home soil since Euro '96 and beyond the stadium, 17 million people tuned in to watch.
The squad have had little time to celebrate their victory, however. Attention - their's and the country's - has now turned to Saturday’s quarter-final in Rome.
“It didn’t really need me to say it but when we get in the dressing room, we were talking about Saturday already,” boss Gareth Southgate added.
“Today’s been an immense performance but at a cost, emotionally and physically, and we’ve got to make sure that we recover well and that mentally we’re in the right space.
“It’s a dangerous moment for us."
Players who weren't among the starting 11 for England v Germany train on Wednesday, while those who were walk around the ground
Captain Harry Kane also stressed the need to focus on the next game.
He said: "I'm speechless... performance was top drawer, another clean sheet. We'll enjoy it but we've got another game on Saturday. So, let's get ready for that."
Boris Johnson also commented on England's ongoing Euros campaign. Congratulating the team at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, he said: "We'll all be hoping against hope that this time, finally, football is coming home".
Although the England team have booked their slot in Rome, Italy's Covid restrictions mean most fans have had to rule out attending Saturday's showdown.
Arrivals in Italy must provide proof of a negative coronavirus test before hunkering down for five days of isolation. So even if fans could get there on Wednesday morning, the chances are they'd be watching the game in a hotel room.
An England fan with tickets for the game has voiced his frustration that he cannot attend due to Covid travel restrictions.
Warrick Howard, from Leicestershire, purchased tickets through the ballot system in 2019 for €140 (£120) each, but his plans for the match have been curtailed by Italy’s five-day quarantine requirement for UK arrivals.
“Given the huge push to have everyone vaccinated there were ways of making this work for fans attending this tournament, but Uefa and the EU have made no effort to do so,” the 37-year-old told the PA news agency.
“I guess they were too busy organising thousands of ‘no quarantine required’ exemptions for their couple of thousand VIPs."Breaking the rules could be pricey. Anyone caught trying to end their five day quarantine period without proof of a negative test risks a €450 fine (£386), the Times reported. Those who skip quarantine all together could face a much tougher penalty. Last year, Italy introduced fines of €3,000 (£2,580) for anyone who even tried to travel between regions, let alone cross its borders.
Additionally, the FA has said it will not be selling tickets for the match to the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) – the official body of away support – owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Instead, it is hoping to get as many as tickets to England expats in Italy to make sure the team isn’t playing in front of silent stands, the Guardian reported.
The statement said: “Unfortunately, the FA will not be selling any tickets via the ESTC for this fixture given the travel restrictions in place across both countries, and as such are working with Uefa and the British embassy in Italy to facilitate as many ticket sales to English residents in Italy as possible.”