There were scenes of jubilation at Gelsenkirchen Burger See train station last night as a group of England supporters made the 21:58 service to Gladbeck, Paddy Power News understands.
Tears were shed, limbs were flung and plastic beer cups went hurtling into the air as the west-bound locomotive pulled into an almost entirely empty platform, barring a handful of St George’s Cross covered supporters who immediately started leaping in wild delirium as the Siemens EuroSprinter ES 64 U2 slowly ground to a halt to allow them to board.
‘Back here we go!’😂England fans MISSED Bellingham’s goal after leaving the stadium as they were certain of the team’s loss😅🏴 pic.twitter.com/A4IFCGTeVh
— Mail Sport (@MailSport) July 1, 2024
CCTV footage from the station has gone viral showing supporters leaping on each others shoulders, jumping on the passenger seats and one fan lighting a flare and sticking it up their a*se in celebration at the timely arrival.
“Oh mate, I ain’t never seen nothing like it”, one tearful fan told our reporter after the fans had made it back to their hotel bar in time for the cocktail happy hour.
“To think I’ll be able to tell my grandkids about being there when the InterCity Express between Dortmund and Dorsten arrived right on time, just like it does every 14 minutes every day.
“What a privilege.”
“These memories will last forever,” another blubbed. “Degsy could see it all the way in from where he was sitting on the platform – it’s a pity he didn’t get his phone out to record it.”
“It’ll go down as one of the great Euros moments – and we were there for it!” they continued before breaking into a chorus of “InterCity Express, InterCity Express, it got here on time, InterCity Express.”
When asked if it was worth leaving before the final whistle to catch the RB43, thus missing Jude Bellingham’s iconic overhead kick equaliser and Harry Kane’s extra-time winner, the fans were in no doubt.
“I’ve shelled out four grand following England here but it was worth every cent for the legroom on that 20 minute train journey,” one of the supporters claimed.
England now go on to play Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Dusseldorf, and fans are already eagerly anticipating an early walk-out.
COLOGNE, GERMANY – JUNE 25: Harry Kane of England speaks with teammate Kieran Trippier after the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on June 25, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
“I’ll be walking out as soon as the team’s announced if Tripper’s at left-back again,” one fan stated,
“Might give til Declan Rice plays his 14th straight pass back to John Stones” another said, “So that’ll be about eight or nine minutes in, I suppose.”
All were in agreement that something has to change for England to win the tournament though.
“I’d get Anthony Gordon in. He has to start right away,” one fan opined. “In the kitchen of the hotels of the remaining team if possible.
“Maybe he could drop some dodgy chicken or fish in their dinner. The tournament’s England’s to lose if he can pull it off.”
*Paddy Power’s football coverage is pure fantasy – don’t believe it for a second.
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