ENGLAND take on Iceland in their behind closed doors Nations League match today, but they will have the support of ONE fan.
Diehard Chad Thomas, 29, has flown out to Rejkyavik and undergone a FIVE-DAY quarantine to see the Three Lions in action.
Chad Thomas spent five days in quarantine in Iceland in order to watch England playCredit: Supplied
This is the view Chad expects to have of the matchCredit: Supplied
The view from the £37-a-night Airbnb room where Chad quarantinedCredit: Supplied
The Three Lions, including potential debutant Jack Grealish (left), are taking on Iceland in the Uefa Nations LeagueCredit: Rex Features
But despite all the effort, he will have to watch the match through a fence from outside the stadium.
Chad, a supporter of eighth tier side Frickley Athletic, told The Sun: “I was on my settee last Friday and in the spur of the moment just thought ‘you know what, I want to be out there and I’ve never been to Iceland’.
“So I just hopped on the flight and quarantined for five days.”
Until three weeks ago, Iceland had simply required a negative Covid test at the airport for entry.
But they have now changed the rules to demand a five-day quarantine followed by a second test – a system many have called for in the UK.
And Chad, expected to be the only Three Lions supporter at the game, said large numbers were considering the trip before the quarantine announcement.
He commented: “If it wasn’t for quarantine it would have been like a normal England trip, there would have been a couple of thousand.”
England face Iceland at the Laugardalsvollur stadium tonightCredit: Reuters
Chad spent £70 on flights and £410 on an eleven night stay at an Airbnb in Reykjavik.
But despite not being able to shop during quarantine he was able to keep his spend on food down to just £20 with the help of his generous hosts.
He said: “The food for the five nights was only £20 because the host went to the shop for me. They just got some basic bread, milk, bacon and eggs.
“[During quarantine in Iceland] they let you go out for a walk but you have to keep it close to your quarantine place where you’re stopping and try to avoid walking near people.
“So basically be in contact with as few people as possible. It was a bit like in England when there was lockdown and one form of exercise a day.”
And when asked about the welcome he’s received from locals as the only England fan, he said: “Quite a few of them don’t even know the football’s happening.
“When you tell them a couple didn’t know England and Iceland were playing today.”
Chad attends England vs Switzerland in the 2019 Uefa Nations League finalsCredit: Supplied
Large numbers of Iceland fans do not realise their team is playing England todayCredit: AFP or licensors
England fans packed a hill to watch the Three Lions play Croatia away in their last behind closed doors gameCredit: Reuters
But Chad has already found his vantage point to watch the match and is confident of seeing all the action.
“The view from the fence is amazing, it’s great. It’s like actually being in an away end.
“I’ve been in worse away ends where you can see less of the pitch.
“If the police and local authorities don’t move you on it’s great.
“But even if they do you can step back a bit and still have a great view. It’s just open.”
And having watched behind closed doors 0-0 draw away to Croatia on a hill above the ground, he said: “It’s better than the hill in Croatia where you could only see 60 per cent of the field.
“Behind this fence you can see 95 per cent of it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
