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      This is your moment, Lions! When the Euros started I predicted we’d win – there are three signs I’ll be proved RIGHT

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      SO, here we are again.Three years ago, I slumped out of Wembley Stadium sick to the pit of my stomach after England choked the last Euros final against Italy. England finally kicked into top gear against the Netherlands, especially in the first halfCredit: GettyPiers expects England to meet Spain head-on and overwhelm them with a scintillating display of attacking flair and powerI say choked because we should have won it; we were the better team but played with far too much defensive timidity as the game wore on.The penalty shoot-out that night was one of the most agonising things I’ve ever endured, with the possible exception of breaking five ribs and collapsing a lung after falling off a Segway in LA – or facing Australian fast bowler Brett Lee in a cricket net which turned into another rib-crunching nightmare.Watch Piers’ explosive interviews on his Uncensored YouTube channel hereAnd my sick stomach turned out to be the least of my health problems as I also got infected with covid at the stadium, which led to long covid and seven months of no taste and smell.READ MORE FROM PIERS MORGANLosing a big football match is one thing, but losing my ability to enjoy fine wine was a catastrophe!I therefore have very profound personal reasons for wanting a different result this time round.But if that’s how I’m feeling, imagine what emotions the England players who lost that day are experiencing?Actually, we don’t need to imagine.Most read in Euro 2024Declan Rice admitted: ‘Seeing Italy lift that trophy will haunt me forever.’However, he added: ‘We know now what we have to do, compared to last time, in terms of how to control the game, not to sit back. We know how we can win this final which I think is a positive.’England gets ready for almighty Euro 2024 final party with fans set to spend £800MILLION on beer and pizzaYes, it is.As Frank Sinatra once said, the best revenge is massive success.And I’m convinced the pain and torment of the way the last final ended will now drive us to triumph and joy. One month ago, I wrote a Sun column right before the Euros began that predicted England could win because we have ‘pace, power, several genius ballers, a top goalkeeper, and a goal-scoring machine upfront.’But I cautioned that we would only do it if manager Gareth Southgate found his bottle and ordered his men to attack, attack, attack.Tomorrow night, I confidently predict that I’ll be proven right.First, because after an explicably dull, plodding, snail-like first few matches of the tournament, we finally kicked into top gear against the Netherlands, especially in the first half.  Carpe diem, lads!Second, because Safety-first Southgate has at last found his bottle, ripping the restrictive reins off his team, and making bold, daring, courageous late substitutions that led to a thrilling last-minute victory.And third, because after 58 years of bloody hurt, this is surely our time again?Yes, yes, I know Spain have played the best football in this year’s Euros.And they have brilliant young players like 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, who Gary Lineker says is better than Pele and Messi at the same age.And the record of Spanish teams in international and club finals is ridiculous, with 26 straight wins since 2002.But this England team is man-for-man the best we’ve had since Bobby Moore’s 1966 World Cup winning heroes.And they’re hitting their best collective form right when it matters, at the business end of the tournament.They also, from Harry Kane to Jude Bellingham, have a steely glint in their eyes, fuelled by intense irritation at fully justified media criticism of their woeful early performances, that tells me coming second again simply isn’t an option.That’s why I confidently expect England to meet the rampaging Spanish footballing Armada head-on and overwhelm them with a scintillating display of attacking flair and power. To Gareth’s glory-hunters, I simply say this:This is your moment.READ MORE SUN STORIES This is England’s moment. Carpe diem, lads!Gareth Southgate has been making bold, daring, courageous late substitutionsCredit: APThe England team is the best we’ve had since Bobby Moore’s 1966 World Cup winning heroesCredit: Getty More

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      Football WAG Jessica Aidi shows off her stunning figure in skimpy bikini on beach

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      MODEL Jessica Aidi is not quite in her birthday suit as she celebrates turning 33 at the beach.The French beauty posted party pics in Ibiza this week.Jessica Aidi is not quite in her birthday suit as she celebrates turning 33 at the beachCredit: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaaidi/?hl=enJessica is wed to footballer Marco VerrattiShe’s wed to footballer Marco Verratti who was left out of Italy’s Euros squad. The former Sports Illustrated pin-up and Verratti wed just a week after he helped Italy to victory over England at the 2020 Euros Wembley final.Former PSG team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic and France superstar Kylian Mbappe all attended the lavish ceremony.Marco wished Jessica a happy birthday on Instagram writing: “Happy birthday my love. read more on Jessica Aidi “I will always love you.”Jessica has over 700,000 followers on Instagram, where she regularly posts snaps from her various photoshoots.Hailing from Montpellier, Jessica works as a highly successful model.She has featured on several magazine covers, and took part in Paris Fashion Week last year.Most read in FootballMarco Verratti’s wife Jessica Aidi soaks in the sun on pair’s loved-up honeymoon More

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      England gets ready for almighty Euro 2024 final party with fans set to spend £800MILLION on beer and pizza

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      ENGLAND legend Sir Geoff Hurst has told how proud he is of our Euros heroes — as the nation prepares for an almighty party for Sunday’s final.The last survivor of our 1966 win cannot wait for the showdown with the Spanish, and neither can our hospitality sector which is heading for an estimated £800million boost.An estimated £120million worth of booze will be sunk on Sunday alone, with pubs expected to sell 10million more pints than usualHarry Kane and his team of heroes reaching the Euro 2024 final is set to trigger an £800million boost for the nation’s hospitality sectorSir Geoff Hurst – England’s last surviving hero of the 1966 World Cup winning squad – is supporting the idea of a bank holiday if we win ‘to allow the fans to celebrate together’Credit: GettyWorld Cup hat-trick hero Sir Geoff is hoping Gareth Southgate’s men will finally end 58 years of trophyless hurt — and he is backing growing calls for a bank holiday if football does comes home.The 82-year-old said: “With England so close to achieving greatness on Sunday, I couldn’t be prouder of the team, and I know the nation feels the same.“As the last surviving member of the ’66 starting eleven, I can’t tell you how incredible it would be to see England win again.“But this moment isn’t just about the team. It’s about England fans across the nation.”READ MORE ON EURO 2024Sir Geoff — a brand ambassador for Official England Beer Budweiser — is supporting the idea of a bank holiday if we win “to allow the fans to celebrate together”.As the last surviving member of the ’66 starting eleven, I can’t tell you how incredible it would be to see England win again.Sir Geoff HurstWith warm weather forecast, packed boozers around the country will be allowed to stay open extra late on Sunday night — as they were for Wednesday’s semi-final triumph.Experts reckon Ollie Watkins’ dramatic 90th-minute winner against the Netherlands has triggered a £405million spending bonanza in pubs and supermarkets.’I don’t want to jinx it’An estimated £120million worth of booze will be sunk on Sunday alone, with pubs expected to sell ten million more pints than usual.Most read in Euro 2024But many fans will likely shun Spanish lagers such as Estrella and San Miguel to show their support for the Three Lions — who will be the underdogs in Berlin.From agony to ecstasy – England fans go wild as Three Lions advance to Euro 2024 final with victory over NetherlandsEmma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “As with the semi-finals, pubs will be licensed to stay open until 1am.“That gives fans even more time to enjoy the game, support our pubs and hopefully celebrate football finally coming home.”Tesco, Britain’s biggest supermarket, reckons it will sell four million packs of beer and cider, plus 1.2 million cans and bottles of low and zero-alcohol beer.Nearly 2.5 million bottles of wine will be bought — and a similar amount of champagne will be snapped up by the more optimistic England supporters.Tesco also reckons it will shift more than one million pizzas and pies while nearly 800,000 packs of sausages and 180,000 burgers will be bought for the barbecue.Andrew Rennie, chief executive of Domino’s, said the takeaway chain expects to be making 20 to 25 pizzas a second during the game.I went to the last Euros final, I don’t want to go through that again.Sir Keir StarmerHe said: “We’ll be pulling out all the stops that no matter how busy it gets, everyone will get their piping-hot pizza on time.”Sunday’s final will be the climax to a hugely successful Euros for our hospitality sector, which analysts say has enjoyed a staggering £800million sales boost during the four-week tournament. Meanwhile, new PM Sir Keir Starmer — a fanatical Arsenal supporter who still plays in five-a-side games – has told how he is desperate for England to succeed against Spain. He dropped hints last night that he would give government backing to a bank holiday — although he doesn’t want to tempt fate.Sir Keir, who watched England’s last Euros final heartbreak when we lost to Italy on penalties, said: “We should certainly mark the occasion. I went to the last Euros final so I don’t want to jinx it. I don’t want to go through that again.” Sir Keir watched parts of the semi-final despite being at the Nato defence and security summit in Washington DC.Monster hangover warning He said: “It was fantastic. I managed to pop out from one of my sessions for just five minutes, which is when I saw Harry Kane (above) get the first goal. I missed the second one but it was brilliant.“So on we go now, great chance. I’ve always said this team were going to go all the way so I’m really, really pleased and just good luck for Sunday.”Employers should be prepared to be inundated with leave requests for staff scheduled to work on Sunday evening.The money-spinning footie shindig will also trigger monster hangovers across the nation — and a surge of staff requesting Monday off or ringing in sick.Alan Price, CEO at BrightHR, which monitors absence among more than a million employees at 50,000-plus UK companies, said: “Everyone wants to watch the final, staff included. Employers should be prepared to be inundated with leave requests for staff scheduled to work on Sunday evening.”Sickness absence rocketed 232 per cent the day after England’s Euro 2020 final. Sunday’s final in Berlin is set to be watched by a record 32 million-strong TV audience — half the nation. And bosses at England’s supermarkets, petrol stations and delivery services were coming under pressure to give staff the evening off so they can see it too.Tesco said it would close 1,800 Express stores early for the 8pm kick-off so workers could watchNearly 2.5million bottles of wine will be bought — and a similar amount of champagne will be snapped up by the more optimistic England supportersCredit: Andy Stenning/Daily MirrorSunday’s money-spinning soccer shindig will also trigger monster hangovers across the nation – and a surge of staff requesting Monday off or ringing in sickCredit: GettySunday’s final will be the climax to a hugely successful Euros for our hospitality sectorEngland supporters celebrating the Three Lions’ victory in Benidorm yesterdayCredit: ReutersSainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose are considering a shutdown.Brits can look forward to enjoying a glorious weekend scorcher as temperatures hit 23C for the final.The Met Office has forecast a brighter outlook on the horizon following dismal drizzles and below-average temperatures. The Met Office’s Aidan McGivern said: “On Sunday, temperatures are closer to average. It’s warming up”.READ MORE SUN STORIESFA PRESIDENT Prince William yesterday revealed he had a “hoarse” voice after screaming at England’s last-minute winner againt the Netherlands.ᐧ The Aston Villa fan told guests in Brixton, South London that the club’s striker Ollie Watkins scored a “hell of a goal”. More

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      Inside ‘quiet’ and ‘humble’ Ollie Watkins’ rise from sleepy Devon town with Motown singer mum to England super-sub

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      SCREAMING with ecstasy, supersub Ollie Watkins said the world felt like it was in “slow motion” as he celebrated shooting England to the Euro 2024 final.Thrown into the Dortmund bear pit in the 81st minute, Ollie etched his name into English sporting history by firing the Three Lions to their first final on foreign soil.Ollie Watkins, pictured with his partner Ellie Alderson and his kids Marley and Amara, has had a phenomenal rise to the topWatkins scored a last minute winner against the Netherlands to secure England’s spot in the Euo 2024 finalCredit: GettyLater in the stands, the “quiet” lad brought up in a sleepy Devon market town, and who used to play for non-league Weston-super-Mare AFC, was greeted with a kiss by his partner Ellie Alderson before hugging his mum Delsi-May.Interior designer Ellie, mother of Ollie’s children Amara, two, and one-year-old Marley, later said online: “You got your moment and you took it. I’m so proud of you.”Many fans had been clamouring for the Aston Villa striker to get more game time as England progressed through the tournament.Not least of those was his mum Delsi-May, a soul and Motown singer also known by her stage name Ruby Washington.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBefore the game against the Netherlands, Delsi-May said in a moment captured on TikTok that she hoped “they finally let my son come on the f***ing pitch”.Unlike many of his peers, Ollie, 28, wasn’t cosseted as a young player by one of the great clubs of the Premier League.Rewind nine years to the footballing backwater of Basingstoke, in Hampshire.It was a blustery March day at the Ark Cancer Charity Stadium for a National League South clash between Basingtoke and Weston-super-Mare AFC in the sixth tier of English football.Most read in Euro 2024With the teams locked at 1-1 and the game drifting towards full-time, the visitors asked their teenage striker to warm up.In the 80th minute, on jogged Ollie Watkins — on loan from Exeter City. But there would be no last minute heroics. RISE OF WATKINSInstead, it was Basingstoke who scored a 90th-minute winner.Ollie’s familiarity with the tough tackles and rough pitches of non-league football may help to explain why he has managed to remain humble and grounded.Mum Delsi-May said: “Oliver is a man of very few words.“We’ve got a family group chat, and he never brags or anything, we literally have to draw everything out of him. He’s so humble and I love that about him.“He’s quite nonchalant about the fact that he’s doing something he loves. He assumes it’s the norm, but it’s not. I’m immensely proud.”A mark of Ollie’s warm and generous character is his friendship with Woody Stokes.Woody, who has Down’s syndrome and autism, had waited more than 90 minutes for Ollie to sign an autograph when he was playing for Brentford.Since then, Ollie has welcomed the 11-year-old into his box at Villa Park and during lockdown drove to his home to deliver Easter eggs.Ollie said: “It’s more than just him being a fan. We’ve got a close little friendship. He is involved with a charity called Skylarks, so I support them too.”Rising star Ollie playing for his youth sideThe striker performing for Exeter City’s under 16’sCredit: BPMIt speaks volumes of a man who, despite the riches of the Premier League, has remained true to his upbringing. Born in December 1995 in Torquay, Devon, dad Steven and mum Delsi-May split when Ollie was a child.He was raised in the small market town of Newton Abbot, on the fringes of Dartmoor.Bringing up Ollie, his brothers Richie, Dale and Jordan, and sister Charlotte alone, Delsi-May often took the children to her shows.Ollie said: “I got taken along to her gigs with my brother when I was younger. She also used to work on cruise ships and that’s when she was away. My singing? I probably let the family down with that but one thing I got from mum, I think, was a very good music taste.“My grandad listened to Frank Sinatra, mum listened to Whitney Houston, the blues, soul, and I like that stuff.”Ollie had been rejected for a place at Exeter City’s academy aged nine but a year later he made the grade.It meant Delsi-May having to juggle her work with a 40-mile round trip for his football training.She said: “I had to bomb it over to school, bring them back, get them something to eat, get them in the car, bomb it over to Exeter during rush hour. Then I had to make sure I got back in time for me to get to work.”Ollie’s close friend Matt Jay, a fellow pupil at South Dartmoor Community College and Exeter City’s academy, recalls his old teammate failing to initially make the grade.Midfielder Matt, now at League Two Colchester United, said: “I joined Exeter at under-nines.“I think the story is that Ollie didn’t make it that year, but came back the next.“You could tell he had something, but people develop at different rates. Exeter’s academy was all about technical ability.“I’m not saying that Ollie wasn’t blessed with that, but he wasn’t the best player there, for sure.“He was very fast but he was a late developer.”Ollie in action for Weston-Super-MareCredit: BPMOllie eventually did progress through the ranks for Exeter, winning a professional contract, and making his league debut against Hartlepool United in 2014.But he was far from the finished article. When Ollie and Matt were 18, they were sent on loan to non-league Weston-super-Mare AFC on the Somerset coast.Matt, 28, said: “It was difficult. It was our first loan. We probably thought it was going to be a bit easier than it was.“We used to travel up Tuesday and Thursday evenings for training, get back way past midnight.“But that was all part of the learning experience. And I think that helped Ollie a lot to realise that you weren’t going to just walk into a first team.“You see Marcus Rashford or Phil Foden coming through so young at great clubs, and we all think we’re going to do that. But the reality is, it’s not that easy.“There are times where you wonder if you’re going to make it. A lot of it is about timing.”Back at Exeter, Ollie broke into the first team and began banging in the goals.In 2017, Brentford, then in the Championship, signed him for £1.8million.After 45 goals in 132 appearances he was bought by Aston Villa for a £33million fee.In the season just gone, he scored 19 Premier League goals, helping Villa qualify for the Champions League. England had come calling in March 2021 — and Delsi-May was cleaning her car when Ollie broke the news.She said: “I’m glad he did when I was in the car, because I let out the biggest scream. If I’d have let that out in the street, people would have said, ‘Find that woman a mental hospital!’ I still can’t believe it. I’m immensely proud.”Ollie scored with his first shot on target on his England debut in a 5-0 win over San Marino at Wembley.He told the High Performance podcast just how much it means to him to represent his country.He said: “It’s one of the best feelings and one that I relish. I love it when I go out there. I’m standing there and singing the national anthem and I’ve got goosebumps.“Representing your country is one of the biggest honours, especially where the squad is at the moment.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I feel like I can do more, I’ve got a lot to bring to the table. That’s my aim — to achieve something great with them.”For this unassuming lad from Newton Abbot, that golden opportunity may come in Berlin on Sunday.The England star’s family at the EurosCredit: Splash More

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      England 2024 squad have gone where the boys of ’66 failed to tread… and are 90 minutes away from sporting immortality

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      ONLY 25 emotion-wracked days have passed since Jude Bellingham’s bullet header set England on the path to glory.Just under four weeks on from that opening game and Gareth Southgate has conjured up memories that are now part of our national sporting story.England have had a Euros to remember, pictured Jude Bellingham’s late equaliser v SlovakiaCredit: AFPGareth Southgate has led England to another Euros FinalCredit: RexEngland are in an overseas final for the first time after last night’s nerve-shredding win over the Netherlands.The Three Lions of 2024 have gone where even Bobby Moore and the boys of ’66 failed to tread.During those 25 days, Glastonbury rocked, Taylor Swift wowed Wembley and Wimbledon began in the drizzle.Also the US President disastrously stiffed, France has been thrown into political turmoil and we have got a new Prime Minister.READ MORE IN EURO 2024Cocooned at their remote German base camp in Blankenhain, England’s squad were carving out history of their own.There were outrageous bicycle-kick goals and redemptive penalties. Phil Foden even witnessed the birth of his third child between games.With admirable zen-like calm, Southgate (surely Sir Gareth soon or, perhaps, Lord Southgate of Crawley), has quietly proved his naysayers wrong.Masterminding England’s route to the final, he has had to ignore the welter of criticism from ex- players, overpaid pundits and many armchair experts.Most read in Euro 2024It seems crazy now but Southgate, who has always led with quiet dignity, was booed earlier in the tournament and even had beer cups chucked at him.As they say on Strictly, tournament football with England is “a journey”.Ollie Watkins scores 90th minute winner vs Netherlands to put England into Euro 2024 FINALIt began on June 16 in Gelsenkirchen against Serbia with high hopes — and Southgate’s men the tournament favourites.Carnival atmosphereIn the build-up to the game, skipper Harry Kane revealed he uses chess to switch off from the pressures of football.Kane was inspired to take up the board game after becoming engrossed in Netflix drama The Queen’s Gambit.Kane revealed: “You have to focus on every moment, every move.”His every move on the football field would soon come under microscopic scrutiny.Meanwhile, German authorities announced that only weak shandy would be sold at the 62,000-seat Veltins Arena.Deemed a high-risk game, fans were only allowed a maximum of two pints at a time of 2.5 per cent beer, which was half lager and half lemonade. Thousands of Three Lions fans descended on the old coal mining city in the Ruhr industrial region.A few knuckleheads got involved in aggro before the game and six have received football banning orders.Yet our vast travelling army of fans have largely been well-behaved and a credit to the country. Those at games report a carnival atmosphere, albeit one awash with lager.Simon Harris, who has been following England at tournaments since France ’98, described the fanbase as “young guys out on a staggy-type do and middle-aged people like me who enjoy travel and football”.He added: “It’s just regular people going out for a bit of an escape.”Every stadium where the Three Lions have played have been festooned with St George Flags, making them resemble a Wembley on the Rhine.Like a gazetteer of England’s market towns and city suburbs, the flags are emblazoned with the names of clubs from Plymouth Argyle in the South to Carlisle United in the North.Fans celebrating England’s penalty win against SwitzerlandCredit: ReutersPrince William celebrating Saka’s screaming goal against the SwissCredit: GettyOne large flag bore the simple message, “England Expects” while another said, “Aldershot, home of the British Army”.Union Flags seemed to have made a comeback with fans, and the Isle of Man flag with its three armoured legs has also been spotted.Support from the stands has been raucous and constant.As well as old favourites such as The Great Escape and Don’t Take Me Home is a new ditty in homage to Foden.Set to the tune of Bruce Spring-steen’s hit Dancing In The Dark, the adapted lyrics go: “Can’t start a fire, can’t start a fire without a spark.“Phil Foden’s on fire, he’ll be playing the Germans off the park.” West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen also has his own ditty: “Bowen’s on fire and he’s s*ging Dani Dyer.”When Bellingham headed home Bukayo Saka’s cross in the 13th minute, the Three Lions fans serenaded him with The Beatles’ Hey Jude. The 1968 song’s Spotify downloads were up 19 per cent overnight.The whole country is behind them to go all the wayRishi SunakStourbridge-born Jude said of the England fans: “They give me a lot of appreciation and a lot of love and I try to give that back with my performances and energy on the pitch.”England’s Wags greeted the players in the stands after the win. There was a cuddle for Harry Kane from wife Kate Goodland while Megan Davison (goalie Jordan Pickford’s wife) and Annie Kilner (married to Kyle Walker) were also spotted. Saka’s glamorous girlfriend Tolami Benson was later said by Harper’s Bazaar magazine to have “single-handedly revived waggery”.The mag pointed to the 23-year-old’s “savvy sartorial choices and photogenic beauty”.In the wake of the win, Rishi Sunak said amid his disastrous election campaign: “It’s great to see England get our Euros campaign off to a winning start. “The whole country is behind them to go all the way.”The same wasn’t true of the Conservative Party.Next up were Denmark on the Summer SolsticeThe Sun called on druid King Arthur Pendragon to summon the spirits of the ancients at Stonehenge to fire up the team.But Just Stop Oil protesters sprayed the sacred stones with orange powder which, according to King Arthur, affected their “mystic powers”.An early Kane goal only led to a laboured 1-1 draw. Despite four points in the can, the Podcasterati went ape. Ex-England skipper Gary Lineker described the performance succinctly as “s**t”.Nation went nutsHe also said Kane “needs to do a lot better”.Then, the final group game — a dire 0-0 against Slovenia. England had won the group but some treated the drab encounter as if the sky had fallen in.This is a job where you get ridiculed, and your professional capability is questioned beyond beliefGareth SouthgateWhen Southgate went over to thank England’s travelling army of fans for their support, he was rewarded by a small minority with boos and a hail of plastic beer cups.The England manager refused to be cowed.“This is a job where you get ridiculed, and your professional capability is questioned beyond belief,” he said. “I don’t think it’s normal to have beer thrown at you either.“But I’m fortunate that my life’s taken me through a lot of resilience-building and it’s made me more determined and I’m just using it as fuel.”After the game, real life intervened for Foden.Tolami Benson, girlfriend of Bukayo Saka, at England’s win v SlovakiaCredit: GettyThe 24-year-old jetted home to Britain to be with partner Rebecca Cooke as she gave birth to their third child.He was back in time for the round of 16 against another well-drilled and tenacious central European outfit. Slovakia went 1-0 up on 25 minutes. England laboured to little effect.The stoppage-time clock ticked to 95 minutes. Some fans left the Gelsenkirchen arena in disgust.Across England, expletives that would put Lineker to shame were being hurled at TV sets. With seconds remaining, a long throw-in was flicked on by England defender Marc Guehi.In the box, angel-like, was Bellingham. Then time seemed to stand still.His acrobatic bicycle kick met the ball perfectly and a nation went nuts.Bellingham was later slapped with a £25,400 fine by Uefa for his understandable “big balls” celebration (clasping his hands around his crotch).A Kane goal early in extra time wrapped it up. It meant an in-form Switzerland in the quarter final. England played well but it drifted to the living death of penalties.Pickford had his water bottle with its cheat sheet on the Swiss players’ penalties habits written on the side.The Everton man promptly saved the first.For England, Cole Palmer was coldly efficient from the spot, Bellingham his assured self. Next came Saka, who had been racially abused after missing a penalty in the 2020 Euros final.England rejoiced as the ball bulged the net. A grinning Saka had his Stuart Pearce moment.Then, up stepped Ivan Toney. He scored a brilliant penalty while staring out the keeper and not even glancing at the ball. He was later seen in a spoof video from the England camp playing games and even reading without looking at what he is doing.It was left to Trent Alexander-Arnold to finish things off with aplomb. In the stands, FA President Prince William had gone through the range of emotions shown by every fan. At times he had his head in his hands before punching the air, his face contorted in joy.READ MORE SUN STORIESOn rolled the semis and the Netherlands last night. More tense minutes, some fans resorting to several cold bevvies, others peeking through fingers. All the while, Southgate kept his cool. His history boys had made it to the final.Now they are just 90 minutes — and, perhaps, extra time and dreaded penalties — away from sporting immortalityIvan Toney’s no-look penalty v SwitzerlandCredit: GettyToney plays Connect Four and reads a book without looking in hilarious England video after his famous penaltyCredit: https://x.com/England More

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      ‘Mystic’ meerkats predict who will win tonight’s Euro 2024 semi-final between England and the Netherlands

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      A GROUP of mystic meerkats has predicted victory for England over the Netherlands tonight.The creatures choose one of two buckets of nuts — each decorated with a national flag.A mob of mystic meerkats have predicted victory for England over the Netherlands tonightCredit: PAThe one most head for wins and, so far, the predictive pack has correctly forecast England’s results.Gemma Romanis, head keeper at Drusillas Park, East Sussex said: “Don’t doubt the mystic meerkats’ psychic powers!”Meanwhile, The Sun’s Mystic Wag Chloe is backing our boys again.Chloe, 27, reckons goalie Jordan Pickford will be key as he is born on a month’s 7th day — March — which indicates “luck and divine alignment”.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSLast month, The Sun reported that a psychic eagle said never to get anything wrong predicted glory for England as they started their campaign at the Euros.Honey, an African tawny eagle, indicated a win for the Three Lions when they faced Serbia in their opening match in Gelsenkirchen.Alex Leonard, director of Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation in Eynsford, Kent, had bird of prey handlers hold up an England and a Serbian flag, with Honey then flying to her choice.Alex said: “Honey is our psychic eagle and she never gets anything wrong.Most read in Euro 2024“She correctly predicts if members of staff are going to head off to pastures new by giving them grief.“And she knows when members of the crowd don’t like birds by flying low and brushing a wing gently across their head to say ‘Hello’.Teddy Sheringham backs England to beat Netherlands like he did in 1996 then go on to WIN Euro 2024“She even predicts the weather and won’t come out if it’s going to rain heavily.“The team here is doing an accumulator based on Honey’s abilities and tonight she says it’s glory for England.” More

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      Hero BA air hostess ensured passengers could watch England’s penalty shootout win over Switzerland mid-flight

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      A QUICK-thinking air hostess ensured passengers saw England’s penalty shootout win over Switzerland mid-flight.She came to the rescue after Saturday’s BA flight from Heraklion, Greece, to Heathrow was delayed.A quick-thinking BA air hostess ensured passengers saw England’s penalty shootout win over Switzerland by holding up a phoneCredit: XIt meant travellers who had hoped to land in time to see the end of the game were still in the air when extra time ended and penalties approached.Take-off of the Airbus A321 twin-jet was pushed back from 4.50pm to 5.27pm, meaning touchdown in the UK was not until 7.20pm, rather than the scheduled 6.32pm landing.But the flight attendant held up a phone to passengers — who could not use their own — so they could watch the gripping climax streamed live.Impressed flyers looked on in delight as penalty hero Trent Alexander-Arnold secured the 5-3 spot-kick victory following the 1-1 draw.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLPassenger Lee Douglas said: “Well done that crew.” Another described her as “an angel”.BA bosses are set to announce special tech plans to enable passengers to watch the Netherlands game today when flying at 30,000ft.England’s penalty shoot-out secrets More

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      Teddy Sheringham backs England to beat Netherlands like he did in 1996 – then go on to WIN Euro 2024

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      TEDDY Sheringham is backing England to stage a repeat of his best-ever game — and avenge Dutch manager Ronald Koeman.Striker Teddy scored twice and was man of the match in the 4-1 win over the Netherlands at Wembley in Euro 96.Sheringham is backing England to beat Netherlands in Euro 2024, above celebrating his goalCredit: GettyKyle Walker, Luke Shaw, Ivan Toney, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Pickford celebrate after England’ beat Switzerland on penalties in their Euro 2024 quarter-finalCredit: GettyEngland will be hoping Jude Bellingham can continue his goalscoring form against the NetherlandsEngland’s stats from Euro 2024 show concede on average 10 shots per gameEURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYHe believes Gareth Southgate’s squad will go one better than his 1996 pals — and get to the final.Teddy, 58, said a triumph in tonight’s semi-final in Dortmund would also be long-awaited revenge on Koeman, who famously robbed England of qualification for the 1994 World Cup.Koeman pulled back David Platt when he was through on goal in the 1993 qualifier. But the referee failed to show him a deserved red card, and he then banged in a free kick at the other end minutes later, ending English hopes of getting to the US. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Teddy said: “Koeman scored the free kick when he should have been sent off — it was very obvious.“I don’t think we were playing great football but still didn’t deserve to lose like that and it hasn’t been forgotten. “So it’d be sweet revenge if we could beat his team.”Teddy, was the stand-out star when England outclassed the fancied Dutch in 1996 after struggling in the tournament.Most read in Euro 2024He believes the current squad — which have been similarly criticised — can repeat their feat. Teddy, who shone alongside the likes of Alan Shearer and Paul Gascoigne, said: “I think our top players will come alive just like we did in 96.England ace Teddy Sheringham reveals what REALLY happened behind the scenes at Euro 1996“They’ve had to grind out results all through this tournament — this could be the time when our stars perform. “That’s what top players do and we’ve got a few in our camp. “It was the same against Holland in 96 when we knew we had to play exceptionally well to beat them.“A lot of our top players stepped up to the plate that night and this team can do the same with players like Kane, Bellingham and Foden.”The father of three, who predicts a 1-0 England win tonight, still gets asked about the disguised pass he laid on for Shearer to lash one in.Teddy, talking to The Sun thanks to Crypto Sports Betting, said: “Lots of people around the world mention that.”They can’t believe I didn’t shoot.” He said Shearer would never have passed but added: “I got as much satisfaction from watching that one fly in as I would if I’d scored.”It comes as England fans are set to be hugely outnumbered by the Orange Army tonight after being rocked by flight, hotel and ticket prices. Authorities estimate 30,000 lionhearts will be in Dortmund, with up to 80,000 Dutch supporters.Teddy is mobbed after scoring against Holland in 1996Credit: GettyTeddy, above with wife Kristina, believes Gareth Southgate’s squad will reach the final of Euro 2024Credit: GettyScott Fairbank saw England’s quarter-final with wife Sam and daughter Freya, 13, but cancelled plans to watch the semi. Their decision to stay on in Dusseldorf for two extra nights cost £1,600.Scott, 43, from Sheffield, said: “They ripped our eyes out with the price of those rooms — and they’re somewhat basic.“But we fell in love with the whole experience.”Brothers Denny and Ronnie Lovett from Dartford, Kent, are stunned by the resale price of tickets. Lift engineer Ronnie, 19, said: “We’re seeing tickets online for £5,500 plus fees. READ MORE SUN STORIES“We can’t pay that.”TEDDY spoke to The Sun in association with https://cryptosportsbetting.ltd.Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo has been the star for the NetherlandsThe Dutch have averaged 1.8 goals per game in GermanyThe front page of Wednesday morning’s Sun More