A number of England footballers’ families are struggling to get to Berlin for the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday and will also be subject to a number of security measures

England’s top players may not be able to mark their Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday with their loved ones.

Travel issues are said to be blighting the occasion for the sports stars’ partners and families, who are said to be battling to make it to Germany on time. 

Those attending to support their loved ones on the pitch will face increased UEFA security measures and will be seated in a ‘neutral zone’ for safety reasons.

The men’s team are through to just a third ever major final, with the Berlin showpiece offering the chance to join Sir Alf Ramsey’s 1966 World Cup heroes in immortality.

England went within a penalty shoot-out of becoming kings of the continent three years ago and Gareth Southgate’s men will be desperate to go one better against favourites Spain at the Olympiastadion in less than 48 hours time.

But as the likes of Harry Kane, Phil Foden and Ollie Watkins prepare for the game, some of the families of England players are facing major travel chaos ahead of the match.

It’s reported that one parent of an England footballer has gone as far to drive to Germany for the game due to the fact it’s near impossible to purchase a direct flight to Berlin for the match. The shortage of commercial flights to Germany’s capital has seen some families look into flying private.

One family is said to have been quoted an eye-water £18,000, while others have been knock backed and told there are no landing slots on offer. The scramble to get flights is a stark difference to how things were earlier this week, with the families previously content with how easy it was to get flights prior to Wednesday’s semi-final win over the Netherlands.

But once the referee blew his whistle for the final time – confirming England’s place in this year’s final – it all changed. Speaking to the MailOnline, the friend of one player said: “Literally within minutes of the final whistle all the direct flights to Berlin had gone, it’s a nightmare for us to get there now.”

According to the same publication, the families and friends who do make it to Berlin’s 71,000-capacity venue will watch Southgate’s men in a ‘neutral zone’ behind the dugouts to avoid being hit by flying beer. UEFA are thought to have responded to concerns raised by loved ones after they were “hit from all angles” at a previous game.

Speaking ahead of the game, England boss Southgate admitted he was desperate to lift the trophy. Asked if the outcome of Sunday’s Euro 2024 showpiece would define him, the long-serving manager said: “It will. But in the eyes of others. Where I’m fortunate is that age and experience has made me more comfortable with who I am, what I’m good at, what I need to be better at.

“I completely understand that in the end, winning and what they means completely changes how you’re going to be viewed by other people. But the margins are so far and there are bits you can affect, others you are not going to effect. I would probably have felt differently about that three years ago, five years ago, but I’m in a different space now and that’s a good thing because otherwise I’d have been in a mess these last five weeks.”

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Source: Tampa Bay Times