Have you heard? It could be coming home – today.
At 8pm, England will take on Italy in the Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium in London in what will probably be the biggest game of football in a generation.
Victory would mark the men’s football team’s first major tournament win since the 1966 World Cup success, which also took place at Wembley.
However, this game will be no easy ride for the Three Lions, with the Italian team impressing throughout the tournament and proving they can find a way to win any type of match.
Still, unsurprisingly, the nation is positively buzzing with football fever as the nerves and excitement build – with even politicians and the Royal Family attempting to get in on the action.
The Queen led the nation’s support to the team, recalling in a written message how she presented the Jules Rimet trophy to Bobby Moore almost six decades ago:
Her grandson the Duke of Cambridge also wished the team good luck in a video message and said it was “so exciting” to get to this point:
Wishing Gareth and all the players good luck tonight! The nation is behind you @England #ThreeLions https://t.co/VBaMuhfxcl— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) 1625992305
Boris Johnson, who has been getting more and more vocal in his support as the tournament has gone on, also wrote a letter to Gareth Southgate’s team, which praised the squad for “lifting the spirits of the whole country”:
The Prime Minister has written to Gareth Southgate and the @England team ahead of the #EURO2020 final this evening.… https://t.co/IJJaKvtaM2— UK Prime Minister (@UK Prime Minister) 1625987866
He also posted a video message, just to reiterate how into the whole thing he is:
We’re all hoping you can go one better and bring it home tonight @England. Football’s coming home! https://t.co/9As9opK5j9— Boris Johnson (@Boris Johnson) 1625986964
Away from political support, the team has also gained well wishes from the world of celebrity.
Mission Impossible and Top Gun actor Tom Cruise, who has been in London this weekend, called the players to tell them good luck, captain Harry Kane revealed.
And there were plenty of others who signalled their support:
I’m desperate for #England to win but, whatever happens, the last few weeks have been AMAZING. So many have loved… https://t.co/qKClBvzwtn— Dan Walker (@Dan Walker) 1626005731
COME ON ENGLAND ✌🏽✌🏽🏴🏆 #ThreeLions #EURO2020 https://t.co/kQ76mrAKUU— Cllr Tiger Patel (@Cllr Tiger Patel) 1625996480
The fact England’s men’s team have reached the final even had Piers Morgan eating his words...
It’s fair to say Gareth Southgate’s proven me wrong…. My Mail on Sunday diary tribute to the man who made me eat my… https://t.co/TjguXIWXxs— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1625990556
Some of the squad also put out their own rallying cries on social media:
We’re ready to give everything 🏴🏆 https://t.co/TAoEby0CfP— Harry Maguire (@Harry Maguire) 1625927918
One more push. Let’s go 🙏🏽🏴 #Euro2020Final https://t.co/QNGyDmxFrQ— Tyrone Mings (@Tyrone Mings) 1625921787
Final time 🦁🦁🦁🏴 https://t.co/uac9XWnxrU— Harry Kane (@Harry Kane) 1625943527
Final push @England 🦁🦁🦁 https://t.co/ahIlQoSoQD— Raheem Sterling (@Raheem Sterling) 1625932797
Final prep done. Can’t wait for tomorrow 🏴⚽️ https://t.co/Fe4y3Z2QDa— Jack Grealish (@Jack Grealish) 1625920638
There was also a message from England’s very own boss:
Elsewhere, across the country, fans have been savouring the run-up to a game. On Saturday, football fans lined the road and waved flags as they cheered the team bus on its departure from the England training complex:
Wow… what a send-off! 😍 Amazing scenes as the #ThreeLions depart St. George’s Park for the final time. https://t.co/FU9Z3417nC— England (@England) 1625934180
Houses have been bedecked with flags amid a surge in demand for England-themed paraphernalia:
A nation prepares 🏴 https://t.co/mvJJGZSBOZ— England (@England) 1625952263
Southampton is ready @England #EURO2020 #Euro2020Final #ENG #Southampton https://t.co/35LhA1T2eA— SaintsWorld (@SaintsWorld) 1625917844
The Shard in London was lit up in the team colours
The Shard last night 👏🏼🏴🖤 #ENG #ComingHome #ENGITA #finals #Wembley #London #Euro2020Final #football… https://t.co/OkConJ7BsN— SplitsDrinks (@SplitsDrinks) 1625982372
And residents on one street have even patriotically renamed their road in honour of the Three Lions. Wales Street, in Oldham, Greater Manchester, has become England Street, with a new red-and-white sign erected above the original.
A good luck message from David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds – who are behind the anthemic Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) – has been projected onto the white cliffs of Dover ahead of the match:
And, of course, the Three Lions song is being sung and played absolutely everywhere...
Impromptu gig with the Klass House band. #ItsComingHome @Baddiel @FrankOnTheRadio @ClassicFM 🏴🦁🦁🦁 https://t.co/MWEoTZHD4c— Myleene Klass (@Myleene Klass) 1625935293
@Baddiel It's... https://t.co/QjXTolHNla— Paul Beeton (@Paul Beeton) 1625931203
1/25 🎵 EVERYONE SEEMS TO KNOW THE SCORE… 🎵 #ITSCOMINGHOME— Aldi Stores UK (@Aldi Stores UK) 1625986800
We’ve even had it in Latin...
Ok, this rendition of Three Lions in Latin has made my year. #DomumRedit https://t.co/gNKYn0Hoim— Charlotte Gauthier (@Charlotte Gauthier) 1625924964
There are several animal fans getting excited around the country, too, including one of the UK’s more famous cats:
Extra lucky black cat vibes today for England. You can do this. Believe #Euro2020Final 🦁🦁🦁 https://t.co/sX11VRnwZG— Gladstone (@Gladstone) 1625989631
Friends! Please indulge us today if you are not supporting England in the #Euro2020Final 🏴 ⚽️ We are all ver… https://t.co/IG4s8XrksF— Malcolm the Cat (@Malcolm the Cat) 1625986010
And there are already wild scenes across London, where huge crowds have gathered in the usual spots to sing and chant with fellow fans.
Score wise, there are mixed predictions.
One Cabinet minister didn’t want to be drawn on the result, but insisted England would win:
.@TrevorPTweets: What will the #Euro2020 score be tonight? @nadhimzahawi: "I am not going to jinx it but we are go… https://t.co/0qvWtwPuEK— Trevor Phillips on Sunday (@Trevor Phillips on Sunday) 1625991389
England legend David Seaman is equally confident:
I was at the 1/4s - we won I was at the semis - we won I’ll be at Wembley to watch the final today!!! ⚽️ 🏴 ⚽️… https://t.co/ipaVXHc5D2— David Seaman MBE (@David Seaman MBE) 1625991141
But the Italian ambassador to the UK was, perhaps unsurprisingly, certain that Italy would emerge victorious:
The Italian Ambassador to the UK, Raffaele Trombetta predicts a 2-1 win for Italy in the #Euro2020 final to "contin… https://t.co/NNsKWD3Q1B— Trevor Phillips on Sunday (@Trevor Phillips on Sunday) 1625993200
But, amid the excitement, there is also trepidation. The word ‘nervous’ was trending on Sunday morning...
Not been this excited/nervous for a football match since the 2015 play off final. Come on boys let's bring it home… https://t.co/iuhZDRaHvY— Anthony Swan RN (@Anthony Swan RN) 1625991656
I was up at four. I never it would make me this nervous, whatever happens I couldn’t be prouder of this group of pl… https://t.co/BQlZuV1MT5— Tom Mayne (@Tom Mayne) 1625988353
Anyone else been up since 5 pacing around?— Matt Forde (@Matt Forde) 1625981262
As was ‘Come on England’ – for obvious reasons...
Morning. On my mind already. #ComeOnEngland https://t.co/5anXTEBBBU— Tom Rogers (@Tom Rogers) 1625989256
This is our time #comeonengland https://t.co/rh7qQs4RWS— Joe Sambridge (@Joe Sambridge) 1625991364
England fans from 8am onwards today #ComeOnEngland #ENG https://t.co/3pFQPDlqqE— David Coleman (@David Coleman) 1625982521
Three words #ComeOnEngland 🏴 https://t.co/A6SJu44G7s— Deborah Mitchell (@Deborah Mitchell) 1625991799
Bring it home, @England. 🏴🤞 #EURO2020 #Euro2020Final https://t.co/JdHbIwyIzb— English Heritage (@English Heritage) 1625993299
There were also some wise and cautionary words of advice to help fans stay safe during the game:
As @England takes their shot at bringing it home tonight, please don't forget about our NHS staff who are working h… https://t.co/NUDohJu8d1— NHS London (@NHS London) 1626005103
Before the game today, please, please take a test to make sure you’re safe and encourage others to as well. Bring home football, not Covid!— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan 💙 (@Dr Rosena Allin-Khan 💙) 1625993998
🏴 It's the Euro finals today!! Come on England! 🏴 It's important that in all the excitement we don't f… https://t.co/uQmH67kgIe— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙) 1625991330
The Metropolitan Police has urged fans without tickets to the game not to travel to London. But the pubs and bars are expected to be busy.
The British Beer & Pub Association predicts England fans will buy 7.1 million pints on Sunday, while over the weekend an estimated £750 million is expected to be withdrawn from cash machines – up 12% on the same period a year earlier, according to ATM network Link (if you want help picking a venue, we’ve got you covered in London, around the UK and in New York).
Nevertheless, some got into the party spirit early:
Thats how we start the day. #ComeOnEngland #Euro2020Final https://t.co/A9SzCYCQOx— HarryC (@HarryC) 1625991745
Approach everything with the dedication of the England fans who started queuing for the Faltering Fullback at 6am https://t.co/MGfj8N5zxe— Ed Cumming (@Ed Cumming) 1625993591
🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴 https://t.co/bgLKBtkFHe— Kerry Lenihan 💚🙏 (@Kerry Lenihan 💚🙏) 1625951487
There were queues outside London pubs first thing this morning...
Queue outside my mates pub, The Crooked Billet in Clapton this morning. @e5crookedbillet https://t.co/OR99oPAyWM— Jonathan Norris (@Jonathan Norris) 1626001790
Meanwhile, a number of schools have already said they will allow pupils to start later on Monday if they wish to and some employers are considering letting staff enjoy a celebratory – or consolatory – lie-in after what could be a very late night.
The final – which is expected to attract a record television audience – is due to kick off at 8pm and will finish by 10pm if it ends in normal time, but could end closer to 11pm if there is extra time or a penalty shootout.
Which we hope there won’t be.
Whatever happens, the England team has done the country proud. Come on, England!