England Win!

After the misery of many previous tournaments, this was looking the same way until the Sturridge last gasp winner!

Absolutely no trouble in Lens despite the highest profile game (and the highest risk according to UEFA) with around 55,000 fans from Wales and England in town.

Some tickets going for a “reasonable” €300 for a €55 face value ticket in our hotel – some for more than €800 on the street and the highest prices on re-sale sites for any game outside the final.

There was also no alcohol ban at all – we even took bottles of wine and glasses in to the street and stood in front of the riot police – loads of outside bars and Welsh & English mixing well. England fans even helping unload kegs and crates as small bars and restaurants ran out of beer and needed re-suppling!

No surprise to us really – there were no Russians (or French hooligans) there to cause trouble. Everyone just wanted to enjoy the day.

The walk to the ground and organisation was very poor. No signs or stewards with gate numbers etc. Usually these are excellent for UEFA or FIFA games.

Anyway, good result in the end but when we realised the team was unchanged the mood was not very good. Surely we should start the next game as we finished. Maybe Wilshere in for Lallana for a bit more creativity?

All the people in Lens and Arras were very friendly, got a lift back from an Algerian restaurant in Lens owned by a fat Riyad Mahrez! And yes we played arras in Arras… 

This was probably the most celebrated result since Rooney’s brace v Croatia in the 4-2 win in Lisbon in 2004 – or maybe the 3-2 win over Sweden at the last Euros (Berlin & Glasgow were friendlies).

Roll on the Ardeche, Lyon and St Etienne and a proper La Tania reunion…

Watch your backs and look after each other in Toulouse Welsh fans if the Russian military haven’t been deported by then…

Playing Arras in Arras…

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