Keir Starmer sends personal message to Three Lions team ahead of Euro 2024 final

Sir Keir said the team had “earned” their place in the final and said the country is behind them for the final in the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Gareth Southgate’s team will take on the Spanish after beating the Netherlands 2-1 after a last-minute winning goal from Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins.

In an open letter, Sir Keir wrote: “To Gareth and all the England team, On behalf of the whole nation, I wanted to wish you all the very best ahead of today’s final.

“You should all be proud of what you’ve achieved so far, and I hope you can take some strength from the millions at home kicking every ball alongside you.

“You don’t need a running commentary from a politician on what you should or shouldn’t do. You’re here not because of luck, but because of your graft and hard work. You’ve earned it.

“As you did three years ago, you’ve made the country proud. Whatever happens, you should know that you have united the country, and we are all behind you. So enjoy tonight. I know that up and down the country, we all will.

“Every best wish, Keir.”

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Ahead of Sunday’s final, Sainsbury’s forecast weekend beer sales would increase 200 per cent year-on-year, with sales of sparkling wine and ready-to-drink cocktail cans both up 30 per cent. Asda has sold over 20,000 large-screen ultra-high-definition TVs during Euro 2024.

A spokesperson for JD Sports said its England merchandise sales jumped over six-fold for the semi-final, having already risen by almost three times around last Saturday’s quarter-final victory on penalties against Switzerland.

Tesco said it would shut more than 1,800 Express stores across England early on Sunday to allow its staff to get home or to the pub in time for the kick-off at 7pm.

Jason Binks, store ordering manager at Tesco, said: “Based on our learnings from England reaching the final last time round (in 2021), and also from increasing demand through this tournament, we have a well-rehearsed supply plan in place to make sure all our stores are stocked for the extra demand.”

Speaking at a press conference earlier today, Ollie Watkins said of his last-minute goal: “I watched it quite a few times when I got back to base camp. I always watch my goals back, you know, whenever I scored against someone but this one I think I’ve watched quite a few more times than normal.

“One of my good friends, who is coming to the game, told me years ago that he felt like I was going to score in the Euro final. I scored in the semi so it was a game early, but you never know what can happen on the weekend.

“I’ve just felt like whatever you put into the universe, you get back and I’m a firm believer that you can believe something, but if you deep down really truly believe that it can happen, then it will.”