The Queen paid tribute to the “spirit, commitment and pride” of the England football team in a good luck message ahead of the Euro 2020 final.
In a note to manager Gareth Southgate, the monarch sent him ‘good wishes’ for Sunday’s game against Italy at Wembley Stadium.
The victory would mark the men’s soccer team’s first victory in a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup success, also at Wembley.
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In her written message to the team, the Queen recalled presenting the Jules Rimet Trophy to Bobby Moore nearly six decades ago.
She said: “Fifty-five years ago I had the chance to present the World Cup to Bobby Moore and saw what it meant for the players, management and support staff at reach and win the final of a major international football tournament.
“I want to extend my congratulations to you and my family for reaching the final of the European Championships, and to send you my best wishes for tomorrow with the hope that history will record not only your success but also the spirit, commitment and pride with which you conducted yourself.
Support has grown in recent days in a nation on hold – gamers even got a call from Hollywood star Tom Cruise.
The Mission Impossible and Top Gun actor, currently in London, has called on players to wish them luck, Captain Harry Kane has revealed.
He told BBC Radio 5Live: “I think he was here in the UK and he just called us and FaceTime just wished us the best as a band so that was kind of him.
“I don’t know if he’ll be there for the final or not, but football is such a big part of the world and it’s good to have that support from all kinds of businesses I guess.”
Kane recognized the strength of the public sentiment behind the team and the national enthusiasm that has built up throughout the tournament.
(Image: Jonathan Brady / PA Wire)
“They’ll be cheering on all of us across the country and we can’t wait to try and win the game for them,” he said.
Fans lined the road and waved flags as they waved the team bus on Saturday from the England training complex.
A video was tweeted from the official England team account with the message: “Wow… what a farewell! Incredible scenes as the #ThreeLions leave St. George’s Park for the last time.
A good luck message from David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds – who are the originators of the Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) anthem – was projected on the White Cliffs of Dover ahead of the match.
Throughout London’s transport network, good luck messages will be displayed on a digital screen, with greetings visible at tube stations, the DLR and the London Overground as well as at bus stops and on road signs. road traffic warning.
Southgate spoke of his pride in England’s history and his team’s role in driving ‘tolerance and inclusion’ in modern England, as he brought together fans across the country .
As the England manager prepares for his team’s place in history he said he wants his players to help do “positive things that we can help change or influence in society”.
The Southgate team has been praised for their social conscience which has seen team members hailed for taking the knee against racism, taking a stand to donate to the NHS and fighting for free school meals in Downing Street .