England’s expat army has pledged to do their bit and cheer on the Three Lions as anticipation was growing ahead of Saturday’s Euro 2020 quarter-final showdown against Ukraine in Rome.
No “home-based” England fans are able to fly out in time for the game because UK arrivals in Italy currently have to isolate for five days.
It means Gareth Southgate’s team will be relying on England fans already in Italy, or another European Union country, to support them at the Stadio Olimpico against Ukraine.
Dave Morecroft, a musician and teacher from London who moved to Rome three years ago, said friends in England had called and told him he must go.
“This is my first time seeing England in a big tournament game so I’m really excited. I will be representing lots of people and filming some live videos for them at home,” he said.
Victoria Ammoscato, a 43-year-old from Banbury, who owns a cosmetics business, is attending with her son Vincent, 15. She said: “We only live 20 minutes away so we couldn’t not go.”
She said it “wasn’t fair or right that England fans can’t travel over, adding: “It would have been more sensible if they let vaccinated English people come.”
Despite the expat support, the number of England supporters are likely to be outnumbered by those supporting Ukraine.
Italian fans at the game are said to be more likely to support England’s opponents because Ukraine’s head coach Andriy Shevchenko had a stellar career in Italy.
Peyvand Khorsandi, a Londoner working in Rome, said: “I don’t even follow football but I think it’s really important to support England in this match because it is tough for them. It’s the least we can do as expats.”
Britons living elsewhere in Italy and Europe were set to arrive in Rome on Friday.
Josh Snitynski, a 28-year-old from Swindon, will be travelling from Netherlands, where he works in software sales.
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He said: “I watched the match with a German friend who was devastated, and booked as soon as the final whistle went. I had a ticket to England-Germany but I had to give them to my brother as I couldn’t go to England. So this makes up for it a bit.”
The Italian Embassy in London said anybody who has been in the UK in the previous 14 days, and has not quarantined and tested negative “will not be admitted to the stadium, even if they have a ticket.”
