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Kate Plummer and Sinead Butler

Euro 2020: Excitement as England takes on Ukraine – here’s what people are saying

Jordan Pickford, Harry Kane and Harry Maguire inspect the pitch with teammates prior to the match

(Picture: Getty Images)

The nation is on the edge of its collective seat as England takes on Ukraine in the Euro 2020 quarter final.

The quarter-final match, which started at 8pm, got off to a flying start when Harry Kane scored for England minutes after kick-off, putting them 1-0 up.

Whoever wins will make it through to the semi-finals and play Denmark.

Travel restrictions render it difficult for England fans to watch the game in Rome, Regulations in Italy also mean they would have needed to have spent five days in quarantine and have had a negative post-isolation Covid test to be allowed into the stadium.

Therefore, a record football audience of 39 million is expected to tune in to the match on BBC1, almost double the number who saw Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Germany.

Ahead of tonight’s match, England released their starting line-up. England manager Gareth Southgate made two changes from their previous match against Germany – with Jadon Sanchoo and Mason Mount returning to the starting 11.

Writing on Twitter, fans posted their predictions and expressed their emotions ahead of the match.

Even Larry the Downing Street cat got involved, and predicted tonight’s outcome – and no surprise, he believes it’s coming home.

Everyone from politicians, entertainers and fellow football stars also wished the players luck.

Boris Johnson even posed with an enormous England flag outside Downing Street as he wished the team luck.

Labour leader, Keir Starmer shared his support for the team.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel also cheered England on.

Piers Morgan sent his words of, err, encouragement to Southgate.

Comedian, Ricky Gervais tweeted his love for England and the beautiful game, he also shared a scene from The Office.

Gervais as character David Brent can be seen in the clip having a kickabout, saying “I bloody love football”.

Frank Skinner, a comedian and singer on the de facto England anthem Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home), could be heard singing “it’s coming home” on his radio show.

Ex-England footballer Geoff Hurst, who won the 1966 World Cup after scoring a hat-trick in the final, tweeted good luck to the squad.

Another ex-England player and pundit, Rio Ferdinand, cheered on England in his tweet as he appeared to be travelling on a train.

Alex Scott, a former England player and pundit, shared a motivating message.

Football Focus presenter and journalist Dan Walker shared his viewing set-up as he sent the England players his best wishes.

Girl group, Little Mix also wished the players luck, and joked that they would be around if the team needed their football skills – sharing a GIF of member Jade Thirlwall kicking a beachball.

Show Racism the Red Card, the UK’s leading anti-racism education organisation, also wished the team luck.

Meanwhile, some fans are concerned that the game may not be refereed fairly, as the majority of match officials present will be German.

Ahead of the clash, experts predicted that fans will spend £533 million on food, drink and souvenirs.

Around £150m will be blown in pubs and bars, and £348m splashed out on food and drink by fans watching at home, figures from the Centre for Retail Research and website VoucherCodes.co.uk show.

Meanwhile, The Campaign for Pubs and the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) say wholesalers are failing to make deliveries of beer, fresh food and barbecue essential to supermarkets and pubs ahead of the busy weekend.

We just hope England brings it home.

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