Euro 20 Group D v Croatia, Wembley, London

UEFA Euro 2020

Group D

England v Croatia

Wembley Stadium

London, England

13 Jun 2021

Finally the Euros is upon us and it promises to be a great distraction from the depression of lockdowns and  COVID restrictions. My second vaccination is now securely pumping around my system so nothing can stop me. The format has changed a bit from the original because Dublin and Bilbao pulled out from hosting, this meant that Seville took all of Bilbao's games and Wembley took the QF that was intended for Dublin.

The first Group D game for England was against the Croats, in an early KO in the sunshine. The attendance was capped at 22,500 due to COVID but the atmosphere was fabulous

Our Row 7 seats were perfect and the blue advertising banners looked like gigantic trampolines, what could possibly go wrong!

England v Croatia

England 1 Croatia 0

Attendance: 18497

Check out the shoes on this Croatian supporter

Day 1 - For the start of the Euros we booked into the Camden Enterprise Hotel which was located just opposite Chalk Farm tube at the western approach to Camden 

The hotel had its own thriving pub, I especially recommend the Five Points Pale Ale.

After a couple of pints and some lunch we headed off to Camden Town 

Camden Town in the sun 

Camden Lock does not actually exist because the three waterways that flank the market are dual locks that were built in the 1800's as part of the Regent's Canal.

On impulse we hopped on a canal boat and did the Regent's Canal boat trip up to Little Venice and back 

Locks over the Regent's Canal

Caution! they drive on the wrong side of the road here

Typical Camden Town arty/craft stall

The temperature is in the high twenties and its time for a beer  at the World's End

Day 2    Match Day and it is an early start; first one down the hatch at 1030

In the COVID era you are supposed to book your table in advance, this time we got lucky at the very popular 'Railway' at West Hampstead

A couple of ciders in the sun and we're off to Wembley Park

Let's do this England

There is great vibe on Wembley Way

All the Euro 20 advertising is up - It is starting to feel like a tournament

Our first walk down Wembley Way in nearly two years

'Neddies' under the arches

The Met on horseback

Put your masks on for England

Wembley Way with the fans back

A year late but we are here

It seems that the property development didn't stop throughout the pandemic, we can hardly recognise the old place 

I wonder how much these cost?

Block 109 in the sun

England's Top Boy is feeling good

Me and Mrs H in row 7

During the first game most people were respecting social distancing, sadly this would eventually deteriorate as the England progressed

There are early signs that football is coming home

Croatia were playing in black and England were in their home strip but the sun made it quite hard to see the action in the first half so thankfully there wasn't much.  Once the sun had moved around a bit I did get a great view of Sterling's 57th minute goal from a sublime pass by the Yorkshire Pirlo. This was the tonic that sent me and the rest of the England faithful into raptures

Team Hesketh posing by the official match ball of Euro 20, the 'Adidas Uniforia'

Croatian fans at the home of football

"Rooney, Rooney"

We round off a cracking day with a meal and a few pints at the Globe on Baker Street. The waitress even gave us a free pint because she had forgotten our order. Winners!

Day3    Returning to Hogwarts from platform 9 and 3/4, but these Muggles will be returning in 4 days when England play those that cannot be named