The 'Dash to Dortmund' after the semi-final fixture was confirmed saw Brits frantically booking flights or plotting the drive into their SatNav.
If you’re a hardcore footie fan in Germany ready to watch England thrash the Netherlands in tonight’s Euro clash (let’s speak it into existence), what do you do first?
Some of the 40,000 supporters who have descended on the city this week are feeling at home in an authentic Yorkshire pub – and we mean authentic.
The boozer in Bridlington was stripped of its stained glass, bar stools, beer taps, mahogany bar, and ‘New Crown’ signage and shipped to Iserlohn on the outskirts of Dortmund, where it was faithfully recreated three years ago.
Some might say it was fate that it was all ready in time for England’s run for the trophy.
England will play the Netherlands in the second semi-final of the European Championship at 8pm BST tonight, after Spain secured their place in the final after beating France last night.
The ‘Dash to Dortmund’ after the fixture was confirmed saw Brits frantically booking flights or plotting the drive into their SatNav.
Around 40,000 were thought to have already been there, so in total there could be 80,000 fans wearing the Three Lions kit and cheering on Southgate’s squad.
It’s a massive number, but they will still likely be outnumbered by the Dutch, who only need to hop across the border rather than catch a ferry or a plane.
England beat Switzerland on penalties in the quarter-final on Saturday, banishing the demons of 2021 when they lost the final to Italy on penalties.
Many of the fans who booked their tickets to Germany immediately afterwards won’t actually be intending to get into the stadium, but want to be in Dortmund for the atmosphere and to be close by when they hope history is made.
Resale tickets for the match itself are going for up to £17,000, and anticipation is high.
Back home, 28 million are expected to stream the match on ITV, which could break the record for a match aired on a single channel.
Pub landlord Paul Moss, 52, who brought his Yorkshire pub to Dortmund in a shipping container, has now decked it out in England flags and is serving proper pints to fans.
‘Normally, 95% of our customers are local Germans who love the idea of an English pub in their town, they just find it cool and cute,’ he said.
But he urged Brits: ‘Come along, definitely. We’d love to see you, and I’m sure you’ll feel quite at home.’
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