Uefa has moved to ease England fan anger by reassuring all refunded ticket-holders they still have a chance to get to the Wembley blockbuster against Germany.
The governing body found itself on the receiving end of blistering criticism from a host of supporters who had seats cancelled after the last-16 fixture was switched to London from Dublin.
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One fan who had barely missed a match since 1998 said he was "absolutely devastated" by a chaotic initial resale, attacking Uefa for allegedly giving him the impression he was guaranteed a ticket.
To their dismay, a fresh release of tickets, intended to prioritise those who received refunds, was sold out in a matter of minutes to any fan or tout who was searching the Uefa portal on Wednesday lunchtime.
However, with more tickets likely to be made available because Germany supporters cannot travel to the game, Uefa is now in the process of reassuring the most loyal English fans that they now have a fresh chance to get a ticket.
"All of those who missed out have been offered the chance to buy again with a 24 hour exclusive window and many of them are already doing so," a source said.
The row had ignited after the governing body sent out an email to cancelled ticket-holders on Wednesday saying an unspecified number of tickets from the 22,500 general allocation for Tuesday were being released online.
Ashley Brown, who travelled to every available away match during the qualifying campaign and has barely missed a game since 1998, is among scores of fans in despair after missing out. He logged on to buy a ticket as soon as he spotted his email from Uefa, but by then, just 45 minutes after it landed in his inbox, he was too late.
“I’m absolutely devastated,” the 52-year-old, who works in governance, told The Daily Telegraph. “I went to every away qualifier for the Euros, and this last-16 match was a great opportunity for my son. He’s just turned 16, he’s watched England before but never seen a game on this scale, and he was really looking forward to it as well. I thought we’re pretty much guaranteed a ticket here because of the numbers that were due to be in Dublin.”
At least half of the 25,000 or so fans who bought tickets for Dublin’s Aviva Stadium after they went on general sale in 2019 did so on the assumption England might top their group. Those who secured tickets were then ruled unable to apply for the England allocation even if, like Brown, they were members of the England Supporters Travel Club.
“I applied for the other games but didn’t apply for this one [the last 16]because you’re not allowed to apply for both,” he said. “I did what I was told. When the game was moved from Dublin a couple of months ago, Uefa cancelled my tickets, which I understood at the time, but they emailed me and I assume everybody else saying, ‘When we resell the tickets for the game now in London, you’ll be given a priority window to ensure existing ticket-holders get tickets’. So I’ve been waiting for that priority window, and then yesterday I got an email which said the tickets were on sale and there was no priority code.
“I saw the email maybe three-quarters of an hour after it arrived. So I went straight onto the ticketing portal but it was already sold out. Then, checking with England fans on the forums, it was clear that word got out and the tickets were just on sale for anyone. You didn’t have to have a code.”
Uefa has declined to give a number on how many tickets were sold on Thursday, but the number of fans reporting that they were easily able to get tickets without codes suggests thousands were released. The sale took place before England got their additional official allocation of 7,400 today.
The Three Lions may yet get more as Germany are deliberating over whether to turn down their numbers due to quarantine rules. Uefa sources confirmed more tickets are certain to be sold off in the coming days for a fixture that has been granted a 45,000 capacity – double that of the group stages.
Football fans arrive at Wembley Stadium for the first England group match against Croatia in the Euro 2020 Championship in London - GETTY IMAGES
Governing body insiders confirmed no special codes were on the ticket portal on Wednesday, but those who had their tickets cancelled were informed that new tickets were going on sale on a first-come first-served basis. The governing body has denied suggestions from fans that its FAQs were amended.
Despite the despair of England fans missing out, Gareth Southgate’s team can expect to be roared on by an overwhelmingly home crowd on Tuesday.
With overseas fans unable to travel with just days to spare, the German FA is likely to err on the side of caution with the potential 7,400 tickets it would be entitled to claim. Germans based in England would be able to go but the nation has already expressed caution over the rapid increase in crowds at Wembley in the latter stages.
Earlier this week, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor, told Uefa to act “with responsibility” after a host of leaders across Europe expressed nerves over the rate of Delta variant Covid-19 cases in the UK. After Germany secured the showdown with England during a night of drama in their group decider against Hungary, senior figures involved in the Uefa ticketing process told Telegraph Sport there is a growing expectation that the nation could follow the example set by Austria, who turned down their Wembley fan allowance entirely for their last-16 fixture on Saturday.
Austria’s opposition to having fans in London will have unnerved Uefa. The neighbouring football federation of Germany had on Wednesday confirmed it tried and failed to have it postponed or moved. Italy had also raised doubts about the wisdom of the fixture, considering the high comparative rates.
England have officially secured an allocation of 7,358 tickets for their most loyal fans, who were able to download tickets as of Thursday lunchtime. Following an increase in capacity for the game to an overall 45,000, the 4,841 original ticket-holders will be guaranteed a category 3 ticket - which are priced at around £45.
The dream tie between footballing rivals was sealed on Tuesday night, but Germany had looked on the brink of being knocked out as Hungary twice took the lead in Munich. Leon Goretzka’s late deflected equaliser rescued a 2-2 draw to set up an eagerly-awaited last-16 tie. Portugal, meanwhile, could only draw 2-2 with group winners France.
Tuesday’s match will be screened by the BBC rather than ITV. In addition to fans at Wembley on Tuesday, a remaining 8,100 or so seats will be distributed to sponsors, VIPs, media, officials and hospitality.
Ahead of an explosion in interest in availability, online touts are already advertising at tenfold face value.
02:31 PM
Uefa scraps away goals rule in club competitions from next season
Uefa has scrapped the away goals rule in its competitions, proclaiming it was no longer a fair way of deciding the winner of European ties.
The governing body’s executive committee on Thursday ratified a proposal to abolish the 56-year-old rule with immediate effect following a recommendation by its club competitions and women’s football committees.
We shall leave you to decide whether that is to celebrate the wins over Croatia and Czech Republic or punish the draw with Scotland...
01:40 PM
More news just in!
Another exclusive, this time from Ben Rumsby.
European Championship organisers have agreed not to place bottles of alcohol-free Heineken in front of Muslim players in a victory for Paul Pogba.
Telegraph Sport can exclusively reveal teams are being asked whether players and managers appearing at press conferences would object to sitting next to Heineken 0.0 on religious grounds.
You can read more on that story - along with pictures of Cristiano Ronaldo having Coca-Cola bottles thrown at him after press conference snub - by clicking here.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after converting a penalty kick, a bottle of Coke flies in his direction on the right - ROBERT MICHAEL/AVALON
01:17 PM
News just in...
... an exclusive story from Mike McGrath.
England players started preparation for next week’s blockbuster Euro clash against Germany with a surprise live concert from Ed Sheeran at their St George’s Park headquarters.
'I would never describe England as Germany’s biggest rivals' - Dietmar Hamann
In an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport, Hamann outlines his belief that England are the stronger side going into last-16 clash, but fixation with past traumas and successes might be their undoing.
England player Paul Gascoigne reacts after failing to convert a cross as Germany players (left to right) Steffen Freund, Andreas Köpke and Matthias Sammer look on during the 1996 UEFA European Championships semi final match between England and Germany at Wembley - GETTY IMAGES
12:44 PM
ICYMI - TV details confirmed
The BBC and ITV have now confirmed their broadcast selections for the last-16 stage of Euro 2020.
Saturday, June 26
Wales v Denmark – BBC One and BBC iPlayer, 5pm Italy v Austria – BBC One and BBC iPlayer, 8pm
Sunday, June 27
Netherlands v Czech Republic – ITV, 5pm Belgium v Portugal – ITV, 8pm
Monday, June 28
Spain v Croatia – ITV, 5pm France v Switzerland – ITV, 8pm
Tuesday, June 29
England v Germany – BBC One and BBC iPlayer, 5pm Ukraine v Sweden – BBC One and BBC iPlayer, 8pm
12:02 PM
England fans heard singing banned '10 German bombers' song at Croatia match
An exclusive line from Ben Rumsby here.
Fans attending England’s European Championship matches have performed the banned song ‘10 German bombers’, according to an official report submitted to Uefa.
Ahead of the Three Lions’ last-16 clash against Germany next Tuesday, Telegraph Sport can reveal anti-discrimination monitors reported hearing the chant – which mocks German casualties during the Second World War – at England’s opening match against Croatia.
We all remember it. September 1, 2001 - Munich: Germany 1-5 England.
Someone who had a better view than most, however, was Telegraph Sport columnist, Jamie Carragher, who was on the bench for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side that night.
In today's column, the former Liverpool defender gives his inside story of the famous victory: X-rated Owen, Heskey's power and Beckham's passing.
England's Michael Owen (front) celebrates after scoring against Germany with Steven Gerrard during the Fifa World Cup European Qualifying Group Nine game at the Olympic Stadium, Munich - PA
11:14 AM
Snaps from St George's
England players during a training session at St George's Park, Burton upon Trent - PA Jack Grealish (L) and Jadon Sancho (R) - REUTERS Harry Kane - GETTY IMAGES
10:51 AM
Maguire trains alone
Harry Maguire trained away from the main group on Thursday morning as England began preparing for their Euro 2020 round-of-16 clash with Germany.
The Manchester United skipper played the whole game as England beat the Czech Republic 1-0 on Tuesday to top Group D.
It was Maguire's first appearance of the European Championship after he recovered from the ankle ligament damage he suffered towards the end of the 2020-21 season.
He spent Thursday training indoors on an individual programme as a group of 23 players took to the pitch at St George's Park.
The pair were flagged as close contacts of club-mate Billy Gilmour after the Scotland midfielder tested positive for Covid three days after starring in a goalless draw with England at Wembley.
PA
10:47 AM
England in training today
Germany await.
Gareth Southgate (R) and assistant Steve Holland during a training session at St George's Park - PA
Incidentally, midfielder Jordan Henderson will face the media today.
10:33 AM
That's a pretty big 'if', Michael
I’m a nightmare for getting ahead of myself but I can’t believe how kind the draw has been to us🏴. If we beat Germany, which we should do based on quality and home advantage, we couldn’t have wished for a better passage to the final.🤞🏼😝
If you have tickets to a football match in Budapest, always book flights and accommodation in the Hungarian capital rather than the capital of Romania, Bucharest, which is around 800km away.
Otherwise, you will be repeating yesterday's actions of six French fans, according to RMC Sport [link in French], who arrived in Bucharest with tickets to France's 2-2 draw with Portugal, which was being played in Budapest.
09:37 AM
TV details confirmed
The BBC and ITV have now confirmed their broadcast selections for the last-16 stage of Euro 2020.
Saturday, June 26
Wales v Denmark – BBC One and BBC iPlayer, 5pm Italy v Austria – BBC One and BBC iPlayer, 8pm
Sunday, June 27
Netherlands v Czech Republic – ITV, 5pm Belgium v Portugal – ITV, 8pm
Monday, June 28
Spain v Croatia – ITV, 5pm France v Switzerland – ITV, 8pm
Tuesday, June 29
England v Germany – BBC One and BBC iPlayer, 5pm Ukraine v Sweden – BBC One and BBC iPlayer, 8pm
09:21 AM
Covid in Denmark
Danish health officials have urged soccer fans who attended the Euro 2020 game between Denmark and Belgium on June 17 in Copenhagen to be checked for coronavirus after they found at least three people who later tested positive for the delta variant.
The Danish health minister says about 4,000 people sat near those who have tested positive.
Denmark has reported 247 cases of the variant since April 2.
All those attending the final Euro 2020 game in Copenhagen on Monday must show valid documents that they are not infected with Covid-19 before they can enter Parken Stadium.
09:07 AM
In other news...
The Cristiano Ronaldo/Coca-Cola saga (as expected) continues to rumble...
Ronaldo equalled the goalscoring record in men's international football as his brace in Portugal's Euro 2020 draw with France last night took him to 109 goals.
Ronaldo was already one of only two men with a century of goals to his name and now sits alongside Iran's Ali Daei atop the all-time list.
09:00 AM
"At last, one thing we can agree on – fearing and loathing the German football team"
For sure Southgate will look to the future not the past, even his own traumatic experience of the tie. He will point out to his players that, given the draw, there is everything to play for. Win this one and the route to the final opens up as it did in Russia two summers ago.
The trouble is, however much we gaze at the possibilities, this is England against Germany. And we all know what happens next.
England soccer fans cheer and sing after a World Cup Qualifying match England against Germany in Munich Olympic Stadium September 1, 2001 - REUTERS
Read Jim White's piece on how an England victory would allow a divided nation to put aside its differences and unite around one thing: gloating about beating Germany.
08:39 AM
Starting XI for Germany
Gary Neville has had his say, and has boldly gone with no goalkeeper. "Let's see if it pays off..."
England V Germany
James Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Rice Philips
Sterling Kane Saka
Wing backs to match up / Engage Germany’s Saka and Sterling left higher in channels v Germany wide CB Rice / Philips onto Kroos/ Gundagan
If England beat Germany on Tuesday, then there will be a potential quarter-final against either Sweden or Ukraine on Sat Jul 3.
If Gareth Southgate's side navigate through the last eight, then the winner of the quarter-final featuring two from Wales, Denmark, Netherlands and Czech Republic will be the semi-final opponents. Right now, the safe cash would be on the Dutch.
Then, in the final, it could be any from: Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Austria, France, Switzerland, Croatia or Spain.
But, if recent form is anything to go by, you'd say the favourites would be Italy, with France, Spain, Portugal and Belgium all in with a shot.
The authorities in Munich wanted to light up their stadium for the Hungary match after the Hungarian parliament last week outlawed the sharing of information considered to promote homosexuality or non-binary gender identities among under-18s.
Germany responded superbly by lighting up its landmarks in rainbows instead.
A person waving the rainbow flag runs on the pitch as the players line up for the national anthems the UEFA EURO 2020 Group F football match between Germany and Hungary at the Allianz Arena in Munich - GETTY IMAGES
A protestor holding a rainbow flag runs onto the pitch in front of the Hungarian team before the Euro 2020 soccer championship group F match between Germany and Hungary at the football arena stadium in Munich - POOL GETTY
In this aerial view the Olympiastadion stadium stands illuminated in LGBT rainbow colors on June 23, 2021 in Berlin - GETTY IMAGES
The SIEGESTOR at LudwigstraÃe is illuminated in LGBT rainbow colors on June 23, 2021 in Munich - GETTY IMAGES
07:23 AM
What the German papers are saying about England
A mixed bag.
Bild.de: We're through... but nobody knows why
"2-2 against Hungary. We are into the last 16 as second in the group. On Tuesday we meet England. At Wembley. In our favourite stadium. A classic. But it must get better. Much better."
"I think we are favourites against England,” suggested Michael Ballack on Magenta TV. “They haven't convinced me yet and they suit us better. Going forward, we don't have to be afraid of them. But of course we need an improvement in performance."
We now know that England will face their old foe, Germany, in the last-16 next Tuesday at 5pm. Redemption for Southgate 1996?
It comes as England players are warned by public health experts to stop throwing their shirts into the crowds because of the potential Covid-19 risk to fans (Tom Morgan writes).
Raheem Sterling, Luke Shaw and Jack Grealish were all pictured handing over match shirts after Tuesday’s victory against the Czech Republic at Wembley.
While the gesture was warmly welcomed by the crowd, Prof John Ashton, the former director of public health for the North West, said he was concerned by the prospect of sweaty shirts carrying residues of breath.
“We have to remember that the important thing is that they’ve just played 90 minutes of football and they will be panting and exhaling,” Prof Ashton said. “If he’s carrying the virus, he’s likely to be spreading it. I think by now, the players ought to know what they should and shouldn’t be doing.”
England players and staff had been careful to observe protocols at a match which took place just hours after Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell had gone into isolation.
With the incident fresh in their minds, Declan Rice was handed a face mask as he spoke to Czech Republic players after the game – even though the conversation took place outside.
Mount and Chilwell were ruled out until Tuesday morning after consultation between the Football Association and Public Health England concluded they had been “close contacts” of Billy Gilmore, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday.
Following Gareth Southgate expressing dismay over the “bizarre” orders for the England pair, the FA was understood to be seeking Premier League advice about allowing the pair to train with the squad in some socially distanced, outdoor circumstances. As it stands, the pair are said to be “following individual training programmes elsewhere on site”.
Video cameras in the Wembley tunnel on Friday are understood to have captured Mount and Chilwell spending between 15 and 20 minutes unchecked talking face to face with Gilmour while Southgate did his media rounds.
The situation facing Mount and Chilwell has prompted criticism of the Government’s 10-day self-isolation rules for those who have come into significant contact with a potential Covid sufferer.
However, Prof Robert Dingwall, a public health specialist at Nottingham Trent’s School of Social Sciences, suggested football would struggle to justify involvement in the same daily-testing trials that allowed Michael Gove to continue working after he was alerted by the NHS app following a trip to the Champions League final.
He added that anger over images showing Scotland players embrace Gilmore after the goalless draw with England on Friday was a red herring.
“Generally, the message would be that there is near-zero risk of transmission outdoors, especially with brief and transient encounters,” the scientist said.
Sabrina Carpenter went braless wearing the Mirror Palais Anemone Dress in butter featuring illusion tulle adorned with lace appliqués along the neckline and hem
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Escape to the Chateau star Angel Strawbridge sparked a reaction from fans after sharing her ten-year-old daughter Dorothy's amazing talent. Find out more here…
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