Britain’s head of state, King Charles III, has called on the Three Lions to keep the health of their supporters in mind as they prepare for their final showdown against Spain on Sunday.
The plea comes after England secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, clinching their spot in the final. The match, which saw England trailing in the first half, was decided by a last-minute goal from Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, who scored in the 91st minute after coming off the bench.
Throughout the tournament, Gareth Southgate’s squad has developed a reputation for leaving it late, putting fans under considerable stress. In the second round, England needed a last-minute equaliser to draw with Slovakia, followed by a nerve-wracking penalty shootout win over Switzerland in the quarterfinals. The semi-final against the Netherlands was another nail-biter, ending with Watkins’ dramatic late winner.
King Charles III extended his congratulations to the team for reaching the final while humorously advising them to consider the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure in the upcoming match.
“My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the UEFA European Championship – and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday’s match,” King Charles said. “If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last-minute wonder goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated! Good luck, England.”
The King is expected to be in Berlin on Sunday to support the Three Lions as they aim to end their trophy drought against Spain.
Southgate’s team faced criticism for their slow start to the tournament, marked by disjointed performances in the group stage. However, they have found their stride as the competition has progressed, culminating in their thrilling path to the final.
