Wembley (United Kingdom) (AFP)
Pints of beer, flags, chants and honking: hundreds of enthusiastic English fans gathered around London's Wembley stadium on Sunday morning, hoping for England to win against Italy in the Euro final (9:00 p.m.).
"It will be a fantastic night if England win, it's been so long," raves David Durant, a 74-year-old English retiree, who "drinks a beer to celebrate", proudly wearing a jersey of his team.
Like him, hundreds of supporters rallied at Wembley hours before kick-off, pint in hand and red and white flags on their shoulders.
Around the stadium, where a strong smell of grilled meats floats, supporters' chants respond to the enthusiastic honking of motorists, in a joyful and electric atmosphere.
"This is the biggest day in football I will ever live," enthuses Mark Bennett, 40, who came with his son from the southwest to see what he hopes will be a historic victory for the England, whose only major title dates back to 55 years and the 1966 World Cup.
If the "Three Lions" prevail over the Italians, "that would be a real dream", explains, stars in his eyes, this restaurant owner, who did not hesitate to put his hand in his pocket to see the dream come true.
- 3,160 euros for two tickets -
A victory for his favorite team would have a special flavor for George Gristwood, a sort of birthday present on the eve of his 91st birthday.
The one who boasts of being the "oldest fan yet" at the stadium also says he has "seen more England international matches than any other fan".
If he has already "visited about 18 countries to see play" his team, trudging from France to Italy, via Norway, winning here in London, "400 meters from my primary school" would strengthen his joy .
In the middle of this ballet of red and white, a few rare Italian supporters made the trip.
"I'm not nervous today because I really think we're going to win," said Eugenio Copelli, who made the pilgrimage to Wembley on Sunday morning, although he planned to watch the game at home with friends.
- Concerns about the Covid -
"I hope both teams stay true to their style," said the 63-year-old railroad worker, who lives in north London, "Even if we lose, if they give 100%, I will still be proud guys, as long as it's a good game. "
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If Italy has won many more titles than England, the "Azzurri", crowned four times world champions, won only one Euro, in 1968. This is why Eugenio Copelli sees two possible outcomes to this day: "To drown our sorrows in coffee or to drink champagne!".
However, the festive atmosphere which sets in at Wembley is not to everyone's taste, in particular residents who are not all football fans.
"When there are so many people, especially a lot of drunk people, it is very difficult for us", explains to AFP Anna Bodo, complaining of the "disorder" and the fact that "everything is closed" in the neighborhood .
"It's a bit dangerous, there is a lot of broken glass," adds the 29-year-old housewife who lives five minutes from the stadium, "I'm happy it's over soon."
For Yvette Reinfor, 49, the problem is rather health-related, given the recent outbreak in the country of Covid-19 cases linked to the Delta variant, which is more contagious.
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"There are a lot more people, we are worried, because people do not wear masks in the crowd," she explains.
However, this "disadvantage" is counterbalanced by significant advantages: "It generated a lot of activity for our shopping center, which was rather dead, in particular for the restaurants", smiles Yvette, who "is also delighted" to " the good atmosphere ".
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