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      Euro 2024 travel chaos with England fans facing massive delays and nightmare train journeys

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      ENGLAND and Scotland fans planning on getting round Euro 2024 by train face a series of nightmare journeys.The once-famously efficient German transport network has become little more than a running joke in the country.Fans are facing transport hell in GermanyCredit: GettyThere are expected to be severe delaysCredit: GettyIt means fans have been warned to factor in at least an hour and maybe double that time for delays caused by a lack of trains, staffing issues and other reasons.UEFA have trumped the green credentials of the tournament, urging teams to use coach travel and supporters to get on the train between the 10 venue cities.Yet significant delays are now recorded on more than a THIRD of journeys across the Government-run Deutsche Bahn network.And that was BEFORE thousands of supporters from across Europe flood the trains seeking to criss-cross the country following their teams.READ MORE ON EURO 2024When a simple three hour journey can take almost twice as long on a bad day, the chaos is likely to cause hot tempers and bad blood.Germany-based UEFA representatives had been privately warning colleagues in Nyon about the looming problems for months leading up to the tournament.And the German media are also laughing publicly about the dreadful serviceTV journalist Chaled Nagar wrote on X: “The idea that Germany is so efficient and great at organizing is now officially considered a myth.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Almost everyone coming here is surprised that their train service at home is far so much better.”In a group with colleagues from abroad, there has been anger and sarcasm towards the train from day one. Banning England fans from drinking strong lager at Euros is ‘discriminatory’….‘we’re being picked on’, minister says”Many arrived today and yesterday. Now they have found out that there is a refund for delays and are demanding the same principle for the VAR. “Here’s to four wonderful weeks!”England begin their campaign against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.Their next game is in Frankfurt as they take on Denmark four days later.Martin Lipton’s nightmare journeyIt should have been an easy day, a simple journey from Frankfurt to Munich and back to hear UEFA referees’ chief Roberto Rosetti explain how VAR and his team of officials were going to work in Euro 2024.
      But it turned into a 17-and-a-half hour nightmare as all the scare stories about the German railway network came frustratingly true.
      Cancellations, delays, work on the line and a shortage of staff meant I spent as long waiting and going nowhere as being on the move on the 480-mile round trip.
      “Vorsprung durch Technik”, as they USED to say in Germany? Don’t make me laugh… As for the sandwiches and salad at Munich Hauptbahnhof – don’t bother.
      Here’s how my day went….
      08:30 – Leave Frankfurt hotel and walk to main station for 0905 train. Already informed that connecting train in Stuttgart has been cancelled09:20 – Train departs – just 15 minutes late. By the time it arrives in Stuttgart I would have missed the original 1051 train.11:25 – Delayed 1115 leaves Stuttgart, arriving at Munich-Pasing 25 minutes late.15:00 – Finally arrive at Allianz Arena, almost two hours later than scheduled after more issues with local S-Bahn and U-Bahn commuter services.18:20 – Leave Allianz Arena in time for 1923 train to Frankfurt. Initially booked and faster direct service already cancelled.19:53 – Board train, already half an hour late. Discover it is no longer stopping at Frankfurt main station. The everybody told to get off as Deutsche Bahn have run out of train crew.21:03 – Replacement option of 2029 service finally leaves Munich, due to arrive in Frankfurt at 1204.01:25 -Train finally pulls in at Frankfurt, 85 minutes late. Catch last 37 bus to hotel, sparing me a 20 minute walk.

      And the Three Lions close out their Group C campaign in a clash with Slovenia on June 25.If Gareth Southgate’s men reach the last 16 by winning their group, they will be back in Gelsenkirchen on June 30.Finishing second would set up a trip to Dortmund on June 29, while England could also end up in Frankfurt on July 1 if they are one of the four best third-place teams.And it is not just the travel situation set to leave a bad taste in fans’ mouths.Policing Minister Chris Philp says thje decision to give Three Lions followers “watered-down” pints at England’s opening game against Serbia is “discriminatory.”He told The Sun’s Never Mind The Ballots election countdown show: “If England fans have somehow been picked out or singled out and served watered-down beer based on their nationality, that sounds to me completely unfair.“And probably discriminatory – we should not be getting picked on in that way.”READ MORE SUN STORIESRisk ratings have been set to “very high” for Sunday’s clash with Serbia amid fears 500 hardcore yobs will travel to spark clashes with England fans. More

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      Euro 2024: Reason Harry Kane’s controversial statue wasn’t put up – with fears it could’ve lead to deaths

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      HARRY Kane’s controversial statue was not put up for safety reasons after fears it could lead to deaths.A statue of England captain was not installed at a Transport for London (TfL) railway station because it risked “distracting train drivers”, officials have revealed. A statue of Harry Kane was not put up for safety reasonsCredit: Big Issue/Waltham Forest Council/Sculpture Machine Ltd IDThe artwork cost £7,000 to produceCredit: Big Issue/Waltham Forest Council/Sculpture Machine LtdHarry Kane will lead England at Euro 2024Credit: GettyIt was not placed at a platform at Chingford Railway stationCredit: WikipediaThe project was commissioned by Waltham Forest Council in 2019, which spent more than £7,000 on the artwork.But the England striker’s effigy still has no permanent home five years later.Depicting a life-sized Kane sitting on a bench, it had initially been planned to live at Chingford Overground Station, where the striker was brought up.Following a risk assessment by Transport for London, however, the plan was thwarted.Read More in FootballA TfL freedom of information case officer said: “Discussions with the Operations Team of Arriva Rail London – who operate the London Overground on behalf of Transport for London – around the proposal to locate the statue on the platform behind the buffer stops were high level and started in January of this year. “After initial feedback the proposal was not progressed. “A detailed assessment of the risks of locating the statue on the platform was not undertaken, therefore we do not hold this information.”They added: “Initial concerns that were fed back related to the risk that having the statue in proximity to the buffer stops could cause a distraction to train drivers as they approach the terminal (dead-end) platforms at Chingford. Most read in Euro 2024″The main distraction issue was not concerned with the statue, but the actions of persons around it, including posing for photographs on/next to it, hanging items on it such as scarfs, etc.”Had the discussions progressed further, this would have led to the commissioning of a formal safety validation workstream, including hazard identifications and a risk assessment, but a further proposal was then made to relocate the statue off station premises at Chingford, negating the requirement for commissioning of a safety validation.”Other potential locations, according to The Guardian, had included Chingford Rail Station and Ridgeway Park, which is where Walthamstow-born Kane played football as a youngster.The images, first obtained by the Big Issue, show a metallic Kane sitting on a green bench and holding a football on his thigh with his left hand.England stars land in Germany ready to be whisked to luxury Euro 2024 base as Kane and Co look to lead nation to gloryEngland’s record goalscorer, who now plays for Bayern Munich after moving from Tottenham Hotspur last summer, is said to have been positive about the statue.In February, his representatives were quoted as saying they “will be happy to go” to unveil the artwork once the location has been decided.Kane has led the Three Lions to Germany as they prepare to kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on Sunday.Every member of the squad was then presented with a box containing a special shirt to be worn in the tournament.It also featured the history of the number they would be wearing and a personalised reminder of how they fell in love with the game as youngsters.Kane’s included a picture of him as a boy with the Ridgeway Rovers Football Club logo — and the words, “Harry Kane: All time goalscorer”.But a permanent home for the statue remains undetermined.The pictures, reportedly sent to the council by Sculpture Machine, have caused a stir on social media.Some questioned whether a footballer should be sitting on a bench in this way and others poking fun at its chocolate appearance.England camp scheduleHere’s how England’s schedule for Euro 2024 could look
      Sunday June 9: Player Arrivals – 26-man squad arrives at St. George’s Park
      Monday June 10: Squad fly to five-star hotel base camp in Germany
      Tuesday June 11: First training session ahead of Euro 2024
      Saturday June 15: Team travels to Gelsenkirchen for opening game vs Serbia and pre-match media conference
      Sunday June 16: Opening game vs Serbia. KO 8pm
      Thursday June 20: Game 2 vs Denmark. KO 5pm
      Tuesday June 25: Final group game vs Slovenia. KO 8pm
      Sunday June 30/Saturday June 29/Monday July 1 or Tuesday July 2: Last 16 if England win Group/Last 16 if England come second in Group/One of four best third-place teams
      Saturday July 6/Friday July 5: Quarter-finals, Group winners or one of best four third-place finishers/Quarter finals, second in Group and or one of best four third-place finishers
      Wednesday July 10/Tuesday July 9: Semi-finals, Group winner path or third-best path/Semi-finals, runner-up path or third-best path
      Sunday 14: Final, 8pm KO

      Prince William, who is an Aston Villa fan, plans to travel to Germany to watch the Three Lions when they take on ­Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in Group C.Those selected to shoulder the nation’s hopes of winning a first major international tournament since 1966 met up at St. George’s Park on Sunday.And on Monday afternoon they landed in Germany as they headed to their five-star Golfresort Weimarer Land base camp, near the town of Blankenhain which the FA have reportedly paid £800,000 for.England kick off their tournament on Sunday June 16 against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.The Three Lions will then play Denmark in Frankfurt on June 20, before their final group game against Slovenia in Cologne on June 25.Since their strong qualifying campaign ended in November, England have not been in ideal form going into the tournament.READ MORE SUN STORIESMarch saw England lose 1-0 to Brazil and draw 2-2 to Belgium.England then landed their first win of 2024 against Bosnia Herzegovina on June 3 with a 3-0 victory, before being stunned 1-0 by Iceland last Friday.Controversial footballer statues over the yearsFootballers around the world have become victims of dodgy sculptures over the years.
      Cristiano Ronaldo
      The superstar had a weird-looking bust displayed at Madeira airport much to the hilarity of fans globally.
      He also has another statue which fans were not to keen on.
      Diego Maradona
      One of the greatest players to ever kick a ball, Diego Maradona was further immortalised in a statue in Kolkata, India, in 2017.
      But the Argentinian’s image was not exactly reflected in the monument, which he helped to unveil.
      David Beckham
      David Beckham once launched an H&M underwear campaign with a statue of him in his pants
      James Corden also pranked Becks with a fake statue of him at LA Galaxy.
      The hilarious prank had Beckham’s face looking unrecognisable.
      Michael Essien
      The ex-Chelsea star was honoured with a bizarre statue in Ghana back in 2018.
      The out of proportion construction had fans questioning the artist.
      Mo Salah
      The Liverpool star has an out-of-proportion statue in his honour in Egypt.

      Prince William presenting Harry Kane with a special shirt to be worn in the tournamentCredit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace More