Euro 2024 final: Kent fans with ‘split loyalties’ as England take on Spain in the European Championships

As Gareth Southgate’s men prepare to take on Spain tonight many will be hoping the Three Lions can banish the demons of Euro 2020 and bring the trophy home.

Bars both here and in the Spanish resorts where many British holidaymakers will be are sure to be rammed to the rafters for the match which kicks off at 8pm.

But while thousands prepare to head to pubs and beer gardens up and down the county to cheer on England, those from Kent living in Spain or with a Spanish spouse will understandably have split loyalties when it comes to the big showdown.

So who will they be roaring on to victory?

Lee Parry will be one of the only people donning an England shirt in Valencia tonight.

The boss of Export Spain travels back and forth between the UK and the Iberian peninsula regularly on business.

His company is based in the Spanish coastal city but he comes back to Rochester every two weeks, where the rest of his family lives, for business which involves selling Spanish foods and beverages to the UK market.

Lee had moved out to Spain with his family when he was 10-years-old so he was schooled there, speaks the language and feels integrated into their society.

His family have since moved back to the UK but Lee has remained in Valencia with his Spanish partner.

But while the 28-year-old has laid down roots abroad he is hoping for an England victory - although he predicts Spain, deserved finalists after six straight victories, will likely come out on top.

He said: “Although I want England to win I think Spain will beat us 2-1 in extra time.

“I’ll be the only person out of 5,000 in an England shirt while watching the game on big screens which are being put up at Cullera beach.

“I’ll be with my Spanish friends who will be supporting their team.

“During the game, I'll be drinking either a Spanish beer called Turia or Estrella Damm.”

But if England do manage to secure a historic win he won’t be holding back his glee, despite being heavily outnumbered.

“I’ll be opening one of the Spanish bottles of wine we export to the UK just to wind up my mates,” he jibes.

Meanwhile, back in Warden, Sheppey, Lisa Yerba has banned her Spanish husband from their home during the game.

“To avoid a clash and fireworks we are watching it apart...

She said that he will be at his son’s house watching the game with their grandsons and will be supporting Spain.

However, Lisa says she will instead be supporting England.

She added: “I have supported both teams throughout the tournament and to be honest I didn’t think England would make the finals as we haven’t really been playing that well.

“Spain, on the other hand, have been good throughout and are a lot faster.

“But we made it again to the final so my loyalty is with my home land England.

“Me and my husband, who is from Madrid, are both fiery and excitable when our own teams are playing.

“So to avoid a clash and fireworks we are watching it apart as one of us will be disappointed and the other won’t be able to gloat and banter the losing team.

“I don’t know if we will make it as Spain is the better team but you never know it could only take one goal.

“I’m not so impressed with Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane, but Saka has been brilliant.”

Meanwhile, another couple with split loyalties will see the positives whatever the result.

Nicola Chadwick added: “I’m half English and Spanish and my husband is English.

“I look at it as a win/win, but really would like England to win this time.

“It would be good for the country to win after all this rubbish weather we’ve had.”

England produced arguably their best performance of the tournament so far as they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday.

It has been 58 years since the men’s side last triumphed at a major tournament, the 1966 World Cup, although that victory and their Euro final appearance three year ago when they lost to Italy both came on home turf.

The last time England and Spain met at the European Championships in 1996, a game in which Gareth Southgate played in, the Three Lions won - on penalties.

Airlines are putting on extra flights as tens of thousands of England football fans travel to Germany for the final.

Analysis by the PA news agency on Thursday found many flights were sold out and airlines with spare capacity were charging five times more to travel before the game compared with a week later.

Many supporters who have not already purchased a match ticket are unlikely to obtain one as the game is sold out on Uefa’s website.

But there are plenty of pubs, bars and beer gardens to watch the build up and the game itself around Kent tonight which you can find here.

Be warned though, some venues may require prior booking, with the match likely to attract lots of people out.