Think this is a first, dedications in the style of Simon Bates. We may start accepting requests for Our Tune soon but this is very nice from Tony in Nottingham: “Just like a lot of fans from across GB my wife and I will leave in an hour or so for London for the England v Scotland game. We’re leaving early as it is also my wife’s birthday so will stop somewhere for lunch on the way down.
“I’ve not missed a clash between these two since 1983 and have been worrying about the game since Scotland beat Serbia on penalties. I dearly hope it won’t be as nerve-shreddingly anxious as the 1999 play-off at Wembley but fear it might be. If you have a moment please wish my wife, Misako, a happy birthday and thank her in advance for putting up with me today. It won’t be pretty.”
A Uefa statement on the Boris Johnson-busting idea that the Euro 2020 final could be moved from London to Budapest due to Covid-19-related capacity issues. Plus, the free movement of Uefa dignitaries without quarantine, which was a reason behind the Champions League final taking place in Porto and not London.
UEFA is delighted that the capacity at Wembley will go up to at least 50% for the knock-out round matches. At the moment, we are in discussions with the local authorities to try to allow fans of the participating teams to attend the matches, using a strict testing and bubble concept that would mean their stay in the UK would be less than 24 hours. and movements restricted to approved transport and venues. We understand the pressures the UK government face and hope to reach a satisfactory conclusion of our discussions. “There is always a contingency plan but we are confident that the final week will be held in London.
That seems like one to watch, doesn’t it? Orban v Johnson: the race is on.
Recapping some action from yesterday.
Some rather surprising transfer news you may have missed.
Juventus’ all-time leading goalscorer and honorary president, Giampiero Boniperti, has died at the age of 92.
JuventusFC (@juventusfc)
Addio, Presidentissimo.https://t.co/mjKh4ei3Ca pic.twitter.com/p8zVZfooEA
June 18, 2021
And a must read: David Hytner’s big interview with Paul Ince, including some Euro 96 memories.
Eric Devin on Les Bleus, who looked impressive yet restrained against the Germans on Tuesday.
There’s another continental championship going on at the moment, though in sadly reduced circumstances. The last-minute hosts have got off to a good start.
By Thursday lunchtime all of the tables outside the Barrel Vault pub at London’s St Pancras station were taken up by Scottish fans, mostly in kilts. Paul Petrie and his two workmates Joe Kelly and Davey Corns flew down from Dundee to Luton on Tuesday.
“We’re the advance party,” says Petrie, dressed in vintage 1978 replica kit with an Archie Gemmill’s squad number 15 on the back. They came just to soak up the atmosphere as fans arrive off the trains from King’s Cross. They do not have tickets for the game but plan to watch at the Oxford Arms in Kentish Town – if it passes a recce planned for later.
And Ewan Murray speaks to Scotland’s boys of 1999 though their 1-0 win at Wembley was still not enough to make it it Euro 2000.
From the Scotland camp.
From the England camp
Here’s Jonathan Liew’s excellent preview of the big one.
Not now, club football...though this saga really does have it all. It is now 58 days since José Mourinho was sacked.
Shouldn’t you be at work? Oh, you are at work. And so are we, building up to the Auldest rivalry in world football, with apologies to Sheffield FC and Hallam FC’s enmity going back to the early 1860s. Yes, it is here, and so are the Scots. The area around Kings Cross and Euston was bedecked in blue shirts, the odd kilt and a lot of puce flesh as Thursday dragged on. Then came a rainstorm to remind them of home. Bagpipes were at a minimum but more can be expected today. Of that there is no doubt.
England v Scotland takes top billing but before that we have Sweden v Slovakia and then Croatia v the Czech Republic, the latter taking part in the England/Scotland group. Slovakia are riding high after beating Poland, while Sweden hung on heroically for that draw against Spain, though may be tired after those efforts. Croatia creaked a little at Wembley, while the Czechs were excellent against Scotland once they had ridden the storm.
But the majority of the day will be spent building up to Wembley, with other updates from around the Euros. Plus, the latest from crisis and managerless clubs Tottenham and Everton, as club football rears its head in typically manic style.
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