England fans descend on streets and bars after Gareth Southgate’s rallying cry

Tens of thousands of fans have made “epic” journeys to be in Berlin, while back at home the nation’s pubs and bars were filling up hours before kick-off.

England manager Southgate said the team has been “grateful” for the support throughout the tournament, adding he hoped to see the “same again” during the match against Spain on Sunday evening.

The King, the Prince of Wales – who is attending the match alongside his son Prince George, and the Prime Minister are among those who have thrown their support behind the team.

Fans from England and Spain gathered near to the Brandenburg Gate in the German capital as the excitement began to build.

Three Lions fans, some without tickets for the match, set off flares and sang on one side of the Wilhelmstrasse – while Spanish supporters danced and waved flags on the other side.

Among those in Berlin was barber Sam Tattersall, 29, from Nottingham, who shaved a red St George’s Cross into his hair, saying: “I thought I’d go for it with the St George’s cross because football’s coming home.”

Rob Cheetham, 24, from Wiltshire, said he had been camping in Essen since the start of the tournament.

He said: “I think the amount of times we’ve gone one behind and come back, no matter what happens in the start of the match I’m still going to have hope.

“Even if we’re losing in the 90th minute, we’ve still got hope that we can bring it back at the end.”

One man in an England shirt climbed a flagpole while others stood on tables drinking beer and chanting.

Among the football songs sung by supporters was Ten German Bombers, which refers to the “RAF from England” shooting German aircraft down.

Southgate has previously described chants referring to the First and Second World Wars as “unacceptable”.

Pop group the Sugababes entertained fans, taking to the stage at the fanzone at the Brandenburg Gate to perform hits including Push The Button and Overload, as well as a few lines of Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home).

England fans have paid thousands of pounds, travelling by air, road and rail to Germany.

Alfie Bray, 21, a mechanical engineer from Birmingham, had flown from London to Frankfurt and got the train to Berlin.

He and friend Callum Williams, 21, booked travel to the city as soon as the second goal was scored in the semi-final.

Martin Rafferty, 44, from Birmingham, said he and friends had driven for 15 hours to reach the city despite not having tickets for the final.

He told the PA news agency: “It could be a chance of making history.”

Thousands are also set to descend on fan zones across England – including in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Bristol.

Fans were in a jubilant mood as they headed to the capital’s O2 arena after a ballot for 15,000 free tickets to watch the game at the north Greenwich venue was announced this week by London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Outside the arena, choruses of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline and Blur’s Parklife rang out as fans shared in the build-up and posed for photos together before the final.

Ticket holders for the O2 will watch the match on a 16-metre screen.

Glenn Sanderson, 29, who travelled from Southend-on-Sea in Essex to watch the final there, said: “I am confident, I wouldn’t say it’s a guaranteed win but I think the way we’ve been playing – we’ve been building up something for a long time, and today I think we might do it.

“If the men’s team are going to follow the women’s team, the under 21s did the same thing a couple of years ago as well – it’s the next step in the progression of football.

“If the women can win it – so can the men.”

Craig Miles, 36, travelled from Cookham in Berkshire to watch the match at Boxpark in Croydon, south-east London, as part of a group of 10 friends.

Mr Miles said: “I think we’re going to win. I think it’s our time.

“I was at the final at Wembley when we lost to Italy three years ago. That was pretty painful.

“On paper we have a better team (than Spain), but they’re playing better.”

Around 200 fans packed into the bar at Stourbridge FC, in the home town of midfielder Jude Bellingham.

England fan John Evans, who was aged 14 when the national team last won a major tournament in 1966, said of the final: “Of course we are going to bloody do it.

“If he (Bellingham) scores the winning goal, this club will be destroyed there will be so much jumping up and down.

“What we are all here for is England to win, and if Jude Bellingham could score the winning goal it would be wonderful for Stourbridge.”

At a packed fans’ zone in Newcastle city centre, hundreds of supporters danced and sang their favourite England tunes well before kick-off.

Sales manager Dan Thompson, 26, from Blyth, Northumberland, predicted a 3-1 win to England. He said he was feeling “ecstatic” and would be delighted if Gareth Southgate continued in the job after the tournament.

He said: “Stay on, you got us to the finals, what more can you ask than that?”

Gas worker Alex Kyle, 26, from Ryton, Gateshead, wore a red and white wig for the occasion. While predicting a 2-1 England win, he said he preferred Southgate to step down after the finals.

“I want him to go,” he said. “We have only played well in one game.”

Social media users spoke of pubs and bars in cities being busy from Sunday morning.

Venues are allowed to stay open until 1am.

British Beer And Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “On what promises to be a hugely exciting day for the country we expect an incredible 10 million extra pints to be poured in our pubs this Sunday to toast England’s Euros final.

“A huge £48 million in additional trade for pubs and breweries will be generated by fans across the nation.”

In a video posted on social media by the England football team, Southgate said: “To all of the fans that travelled to the games, I know there have been some epic journeys, hours and hours of travel, so grateful for that support.

“It’s meant so much to us in the stadium, and it’s so important for the players, so same again please for the final.

“To everybody at home, we’ve for a long time wanted to create memories for everybody.

“I think we’ve had a lot over the last seven, eight years. This tournament has thrown up more, the knockout phase in particular.

“I think we’ve shown amazing resilience, never say die spirit, composure under pressure at different moments.

“So, we’re looking forward to this challenge. We know we’ve got to be exceptional again against Spain. But we’re in here fighting and we hope to do you proud again.”

Speaking during a press conference on Saturday evening, Southgate said the team were aware of what a victory would mean to the nation.

Captain Harry Kane told the press conference he is “extremely proud to be English”, saying a win would be “incredible” for fans.

The Prince of Wales said in a social media post on Saturday: “We are so proud of you all England, just one last push to finish the job!

“Go out there and show the world what you’re made of. We believe. W.”

William, who is president of the Football Association, attended England’s quarter-final victory over Switzerland a week ago and the group stage game against Denmark, and was seen cheering in the stands.

His father, the King, also commended the team after their 2-1 semi-final win over the Netherlands on Wednesday – but quipped that they should avoid more last-minute drama.

In a message to Southgate’s side, Charles sent the players the royal family’s “very best wishes” and “warmest congratulations”.

He added: “If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated!

“Good luck, England.”

In a good luck message, Sir Keir Starmer, writing to “Gareth and all the England team”, said: “You should all be proud of what you’ve achieved so far, and I hope you can take some strength from the millions at home kicking every ball alongside you.”

Speaking on ITV Sport ahead of the match, Sir Keir – asked about a potential bank holiday if England win – said: “I don’t know. Let’s get through the next few hours, get the hands on the trophy. We’ll need to mark it in some way, we’d have to see what that is. An appropriate way.”

The men’s side have never won a European Championship, with the World Cup win in 1966 their last and only major silverware.

It is the first time the men’s side has reached a final outside England.