Oxford fans ready to cheer on England for Euro semi-final

It will be the sixth time England has played in the semi-finals of a major tournament, not including the 1968 European Championship when only four teams qualified for the finals.

And fans from Oxford have been out in Germany cheering on the Three Lions during their run to the last four.

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This includes Oxford United fans Lee Wanless and Arron Robinson, who travelled to Germany with their U’s flag, despite having no ticket to a game.

Luckily for them, the pair bumped into some fellow Yellow’s fans who were able to point them in the direction of someone selling tickets for England’s final group game against Slovenia in Cologne.

Lee Wanless and Arron Robinson in Cologne (Image: Lee Wanless) Mr Wanless, chairman of private members club Ashton Club in Bicester, said: “It was brilliant, we loved it. We only went for a couple of days but it was a really good atmosphere.

“The flag goes to every Oxford United game with me so I took it out with me.

“I have been to a load of home games at Wembley but it was the first away one I have been to abroad.”

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On England’s chances of progressing to the final, he said: “They are improving a little bit, the game I watched the 0-0 which was pretty poor, but hopefully they have a good chance tomorrow to get through to the final.”

There had been concern over transport issues at the tournament but Mr Wanless said he found the train system “brilliant”.

“We got a flight to Frankfurt and got to train to Cologne.

"It was 180 miles apart but we got there in 55 minutes,” he added.

“All the local trains were really good as well, it was all well planned. All the fan zones were all well looked after.”

Arron Robinson and Lee Wanless, right (Image: Lee Wanless)

Almost 14 million tuned in to watch England’s tense Euros quarter-final match against Switzerland, which saw them clinch victory in a penalty shootout, BBC has said.

Viewers were kept hooked as Bukayo Saka equalised Breel Embolo’s opener, but the two sides could not be separated with the game ending 1-1 after extra time.

They secured the win with a 5-3 shoot-out after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all stepped up to take spot-kicks.

The game, which kicked off at 5pm, attracted a peak audience of 16.8 million people watching the BBC sport coverage live on BBC One.

Ahead of the game, figures by hospitality technology company, Access Hospitality, showed pubs in Oxford are serving up 30 per cent more pints than usual during Euro’s matches.

Martin Verdon-Roe, GM Hospitality at The Access Group, said: “Compared to the last Euros in 2021, when Covid restrictions were still in place, the hospitality industry has bounced back.

“England clearly want to experience their team’s matches on the big screen surrounded by crowds of people.”

Greene King pubs, including the Wig & Pen and Turf Tavern in Oxford city centre, is offering punters a free pint if England scores in the semi-final.

All customers must do is say the words “England scored, please pour” to redeem their complimentary pint once the final whistle has been blown. 

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford celebrates the win (Image: PA)

The pub company has enlisted former professional footballer, Jimmy Bullard, who said: “After having a career in football, I’ve seen first-hand the passion this nation has for the sport and as this tournament has proven, nothing is guaranteed in football.

“What can be guaranteed though is a good time at the pub, because no matter the result, win or lose, you’re surrounded by your friends and fellow fans, so you can celebrate or commiserate together.”

Here are 10 other pubs in Oxford where you can catch the game but make sure to ring before to make sure they still have tables available.

The Head of The River (located on Folly Bridge in St Aldates), The Crown (59A Cornmarket Street), The Plough Inn (38 Cornmarket Street), O'Neills, (37 George Street), The Chequers (131 High Street), The Royal Oak (42-44 Woodstock Road), The Jericho (56 Walton Street), Cow and Creek (12 New Road), The City Arms (288 Cowley Road) and St Aldate’s Tavern (108 St Aldate’s).