For hours they sang.
Willing England on.
Hoping their belief would help push the Three Lions to victory in Euro 2024 and end 58 years of hurt.
Thousands of England fans packed together to watch the match on the big screen behind Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate hoping their team would make history.
Among them Ryan Brooks, Ashley Nicklin & Jordan Kelly who had spent around 18 hours driving from Stoke.
“For me, I didn’t want to miss England, I missed them a few years ago when they were playing in London and I regretted missing them. The opportunity came to drive there, so we took it,” Ryan said.
Many had paid thousands just to be in the city where England was playing.
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Tom and Wayne Robinson from Chesterfield had flown to Cologne and then got a train with friends to Berlin.
By the time they arrived, tickets for the game were selling for around £1,400 each.
“We need more beer, then we might buy them,” Tom said.
Rory Crowe came dressed as Queen Elizabeth II.
He’d flown into from Chicago, forking out £2,000 on a ticket.
Last time he wore his royal outfit, England had been beaten by Italy.
Earlier in the day, nervous about the game ahead he’d joked it might be a jinx.
As Spain roared back onto the pitch in the second half, he was no doubt worrying he was right.
England had been the underdogs going into the final but that didn’t stop their fans from dreaming.
Surely, this time fate would be on their side many thought.
But as time ticked by, hope turned to frustration.
“For God’s sake,” one man shouted.
“Come on,” they pleaded.
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Men who hours earlier had been chanting gleefully held their heads in their hands.
It felt like hope for many had died, and then Cole Palmer scored and brought it raging back to life.
The crowd went wild, beer sprayed into the air as thunderous songs again filled the air.
“I’m England ’til I die,” they bellowed.
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But when Spain pulled ahead again, some England fans began to walk out.
In the final moments, boos and exasperated shouts rang out from England supporters as once again hope turned to heartbreak.
