Friday, November 22, 2024

Prince William joins England fans celebrating Euros quarter-final win

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The Prince of Wales showed a range of emotions at the Dusseldorf Arena (Picture: Rex/PA/Getty)

Prince William went through it just like the rest of us watching England once again leave it late, eventually seeing off Switzerland on penalties to reach the Euro 2024 semi-finals.

The Prince of Wales showed a range of emotions at the Dusseldorf Arena as he cheered on Gareth Southgate’s men. William, who is president of the FA, was seen out of his seat and punching the air after England equalised in the 80th minute, around five minutes after Switzerland scored the first goal.

He could also be seen with his head in his hands as the game finished 1-1 after extra-time, before getting back to his feet to celebrate Trent Alexander-Arnold’s winning spot-kick.

Congratulating the Three Lions, William later wrote on social media: ‘Nail biting to the very end. Well done @England! Semi-finals here we come! We believe. W’

The prince earlier joined guests including UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin in the stands for the rendition of ‘God Save the Kick’ before Saturday’s quarter-final kicked off.

He was previously seen at the Three Lion’s match against Denmark last month, joined by Danish King Frederik X.

Britain's Prince William speaks with attendees ahead of a quarterfinal match between England and Switzerland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Prince William speaks with attendees ahead of the quarter-final match between England and Switzerland (Picture: AP)
The Prince of Wales speaks with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin (centre left) before the UEFA Euro 2024, quarter-final match at the Dusseldorf Arena, Germany. Picture date: Saturday July 6, 2024. PA Photo. See PA Story SOCCER England. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to FA restrictions. Editorial use only. Commercial use only with prior written consent of the FA. No editing except cropping.
The prince speaks with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin (centre left) (Picture: PA)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock (14574931et) DUSSELDORF - Prince William of Wales in the stands during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between England and Switzerland at the Dusseldorf Arena on July 6, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. England v Switzerland, UEFA EURO 2024 - 06 Jul 2024
William, sitting behind Luis Figo, holds his hands up to his face (Picture: Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock)
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - JULY 06: Prince William, Prince of Wales and President of The Football Association, celebrates after Bukayo Saka of England (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between England and Switzerland at D??sseldorf Arena on July 06, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The Prince of Wales celebrates after Bukayo Saka draws England level (Picture: Getty)
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - JULY 06: Prince William, Prince of Wales and President of The Football Association, reacts before the penalty shootout during the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final match between England and Switzerland at D??sseldorf Arena on July 06, 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
He can barely look as the match heads to penalties (Picture: Getty)
Prince William joins ecstatic England fans celebrating Euros quarter-final win
The Prince of Wales (centre) celebrates England winning the penalty shoot-out (Picture: PA)

Three years on from being denied the European crown on spot-kicks, England had to fight their demons from 12 yards to continue their quest to go one better in Germany.

Bukayo Saka cancelled out Breel Embolo’s opener to take the quarter-final to extra-time and onto penalties after it ended 1-1, with the England star converting to bury the ghosts of his Euro 2020 final miss.

But Pickford was the star as he saved Manuel Akanji’s penalty, with Trent Alexander-Arnold wrapping up a 5-3 triumph to spark bedlam in Dusseldorf and seal a semi-final spot.

It was a dramatic end to an edgy encounter and England’s first shoot-out win since beating the Swiss in the Nations League third-placed play-off five years ago in Portugal.

England v Switzerland: Quarter-Final - UEFA EURO 2024
England players celebrate after Trent Alexander-Arnold scores the winning penalty kick (Picture: Getty)
UEFA EURO 2024England v Switzerland
Bukayo Saka buried the ghosts of his Euro 2020 final miss (Picture: ANP via Getty Images)

England fans were pictured celebrating as they watched from a series of screenings, including at BOXPARK, Wembley, Sandown Park, Esher and Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire.

One man crowd-surfed shirtless at Millennium Square in Leeds to celebrate Saka’s strike.

The match went to extra time with the two teams drawing 1-1.

In BOXPARK, fans danced to Tubthumping by Chumbawamba singing, ‘I get knocked down, but I get up again’, as they prepared to watch extra time.

After 30 minutes of no goals, the two sides entered into a tense penalty shootout, which England won after netting all five attempts.

The Switzerland clash was Southgate’s 100th game in charge of the senior national team and his 24th match as England manager at a major tournament – nine more than anyone else in history.


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