BOO-TIFUL GAME Three Lions tamed by brave Scots
England’s Euros party is on hold as Scotland battle to a draw
BOOS rang out around Wembley last night as England failed to beat the Auld Enemy Scotland in Euro 2020.
The Scottish team grew in confidence throughout the game as a lethargic England struggled to live up to the occasion, with their supporters belting out renditions of Flower of Scotland in the closing moments of the match, which finished 0-0.
Scottish forwards missed numerous chances as the
Three Lions struggled against them. The result delighted the Tartan Army who travelled down to London in thousands for the once-in-a-generation football game.
Famous faces in the stands at the sides’ first tournament match in 25 years included rocker Sir Rod Stewart, 76, supporting Scotland, and former England captain David Beckham, 46.
Both sets of fans booed the national anthems before kick-off, but, in an iconic move, all the players took the knee in a stand against racism. And England fans booed their side off the pitch as the atmosphere turned to anti-climax.
Before the game it was so different. England supporter Jamie Powell, a 24-yearold sales representative from London, said: “The atmosphere on the way here was electric. Everyone was singing. It was really positive vibes.”
Fans invaded central London in the pouring rain and at Wembley, they painted their faces and cheered loudly before the match. An estimated 20,000, many of them ticketless, were believed to have made the journey south from Scotland.
Police admitted they had to manage the situation “flexibly” as Scotland fans took over the West End with no social distancing – and showering any England supporters brave enough to go near them with beer. By 6.30pm, thousands had poured into Leicester Square, flouting Scotland Yard’s twoday order warning them not congregate. They were later joined by around 20,000 England fans and fights broke out after they swore at each other. Others let off blue and white smoke flares chanting: “I’d hate to be English.”
With no fan zones due to Covid restrictions, London mayor Sadiq Khan had asked supporters not to travel without a ticket or a “safe place” to watch the game.
London-based Glaswegian Gary, 30, said there was no stopping them: “It was inevitable. You can’t stop the masses coming down to celebrate a once-in-a-generation event.”
Scotland fan Rab Foulis argued supporters were “bringing a party atmosphere” and “helping London’s economy”.
He said: “We’ve all had double vaccinations and we’re saying, ‘You know what... why is Britain as a country still holding the economy back?’
Chief Inspector Joseph Stokoe, head of Scotland Yard’s Euro 2020 policing said spreading the Met’s resources between crime and fans was “a balancing act”.