‘Berlin Airlift’ begins TODAY as 50k England fans cram onto £1,000 flights to German capital for historic Euros final
ELATED England fans have spent the night scrambling to join a ‘Berlin Airlift’ heading to Sunday’s historic Euros final against Spain.
Up to 50,000 supporters are expected to race to the Three Lions’ first ever final on foreign soil – as flights swiftly soared up in price.
After Ollie Watkin’s last gasp screamer took Gareth Southgate‘s men through to the final of Euro 2024 fans were quick to try and snap up tickets, flights and hotels ahead of Sunday 14.
A few hundred gold dust tickets are due to go on sale on the UEFA website this week, with the FA having just 10,000 tickets to sell.
Many expect the 40,000 fans from Wednesday’s game in Dortmund to be after tickets once more as well 10,000 extras looking to be part of history.
A remarkable 21 Ryanair flights from UK airports to Berlin between Thursday and Sunday are already sold out.
With 21 EasyJet flights to Berlin from Birmingham, Bristol, Luton and Gatwick between Friday and the match also being fully booked.
The remaining EasyJet flights going from Gatwick to Berlin in the next few days are priced at a whopping £918.
The same seat will set back punters just £167 a week later.
British Airways is also charging £782 to fly from Heathrow to Berlin on Saturday night.
Elsewhere, the cheapest flights to Berlin and back to the UK have more than doubled at best.
An easyJet spokesperson said: “Since the final whistle last night easyJet has seen an increase in demand for flights to and from Berlin.
“Although we don’t artificially put fares up, our pricing is demand-led.
“This means that as quick-thinking football fans booked seats the lower priced fares sold out, however easyJet continues to have availability for direct flights between now and Sunday from the UK to Berlin.”
Neil Chernoff, BA’s chief planning and strategy officer, said they saw a 1,000% increase in searches for flights to Berlin between 10pm and 11pm on Wednesday.
BA have also announced they are looking at using bigger jets for the flights to allow as many fans as possible to travel.
Neil added: “It’s a huge game and everyone at British Airways hopes England can get over the line and bring it home.”
Hotel prices in Berlin have also rocketed with a one-night stay at a Holiday Inn in Berlin costing £345 on Sunday night.
Over £200 more expensive than the same room a week later.
The Courtyard Berlin City Centre is also charging £606 for Sunday night in its cheapest room – but just £137 the following Sunday.
Airbnb’s in the city have stayed at around £117-a-night based on two people sharing the rooms but are expected to be booked up soon.
Thousands will also be joining the rush to the German capital in cars, camper vans, coaches and trains.
England fans are likely to come over on a 550-mile dash from Calais.
But fans desperate to watch England potentially get their hands on international silverware for the first time since 1966 will be forced to stump up enough cash for re-sale tickets.
Ticket prices for Sunday’s final flew up on the re-sale market with the best seat selling for an incredible £78,000-a-pair as others hit £32,852-a-pair.
Some of the lowest-priced tickets are sat at £4,328 – 25 times the £85 face value they were worth pre-tournament.
UEFA have warned fans about buying tickets from outside sellers as they said: “We urge fans not to purchase tickets on the secondary market.”
England overcame the Dutch in the semi-final at the Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday in a monumental game for Southgate’s side.
The Dutch had started the match the better of the two as Simons gave them the lead in the 7th minute.
Harry Kane levelled the match 11 minutes later from the spot after he won a controversial penalty.
And it was Watkins who was the hero as he fired in the winner in the final moments of the match.
The winning goal sent fans, players and coaching staff into wild celebrations.
Even England’s Dutch coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was swept up in the moment before realising it came against his native country.
Pundits Gary Neville and Ian Wright went wild in the ITV studio while Roy Keane remained his composed self.
England will face Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
The Spanish reached the final by dumping out France in the first semi-final 2-1.
Randal Kolo Muani had given the French the lead before goals from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo sent Spain through.
England ratings vs Holland
ENGLAND stormed into the final against Spain thanks to Ollie Watkins' last-minute strike in the 2-1 win over Holland.
It was a brilliant team performance, but how did each player rate?
SunSport’s Tom Barclay ran the rule over Southgate’s boys, and here’s how he rated them.
Jordan Pickford: 7
Bigger goalkeepers may have got a stronger hand to Xavi Simons’ early stunner – though that was being hypercritical. Solid stop to deny Virgil van Dijk after the hour.
Kyle Walker: 7
Looked re-energised after some lumbering displays and bombed on at times in the first half, despite his role on the right of a back three. Last-ditch tackle on Cody Gakpo was spot on.
John Stones: 7
Strong in possession. He looks to have benefited from regular game-time after rarely featuring for Manchester City in the last few months.
Marc Guehi: 6
Came back into the side after suspension ruled him out of the Switzerland game. Had an unenviable task of making the big man Wout Weghorst after the break.
Bukayo Saka: 7
Razor-sharp in the first half, winning tackles, making runs and dribbling the ball proficiently. Less of an impact after the break, had a goal ruled out for offside and was booked.
Declan Rice: 6
Lost possession for Simons’ thunderous opener but grew into the game, mopping up where necessary. Poor pass when Kane was open midway through the second half.
Kobbie Mainoo: 8
Was England’s youngest-ever player to play in a major-tournament semi-final, aged 19years 82 days, and had a stormer in the first half. Great bursts forward, vital tackles, and his interplay with Foden was a joy.
Kieran Trippier: 6
We all know by now that he is playing out of position, so again he was limited going forward and reliable defensively. Subbed at half-time for the more natural Shaw.
Phil Foden: 7
The first 45 minutes was by far and away his best half of the tournament. Thought he’d scored when his shot was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries, and cracked the post with a cracker. But was then surprisingly subbed.
Jude Bellingham: 5
Back at the ground where he made his name but struggled to make much of an impact on his old stomping ground. Fortunate it was not he that was subbed.
Harry Kane: 6
Won and dispatched the penalty to go joint top-scorer in the tournament with three goals. Had looked more mobile initially but still tired badly after the break and was taken off.
SUBS
Luke Shaw (for Kieran Trippier, half-time): 6
Looked assured for a man who has been out for so long.
Ollie Watkins (for Harry Kane, 81): 9 and STAR MAN
Surprisingly given the nod over Ivan Toney as striker sub as Southgate looked for more pace in behind. Brilliant finish into the corner to win the game – you could not ask more from him.
Cole Palmer (for Phil Foden, 81): 7
Had his big chance in the final minutes but shanked it horribly wide – but then fed Watkins for his wonderful winner.
Gareth Southgate: 8
His switch to a back three against Switzerland helped dig out the win there, and here it had his team finally playing some great football in the first half. The team went into their shells again as the game wore on and you feared the worst – but you have to say his decision to bring on Ollie Watkins was a masterstroke.
