Expats in England and Spain set for Euros final

As anticipation builds ahead of Sunday night’s Spanish showdown, football fans across the country are making plans on where they will be watching the Euro 2024 final.

But what about the England supporters who will be watching on in Spain - or the Spaniards who will be tuning in to cheer on their team from around England?

Some families have split allegiances, including Jose and Sofia Escribano, who will be watching the match at home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, with their children and grandchildren.

Mr Escribano, who runs Jose's Tapas Restaurant alongside his wife, said: "The only Spaniard in the house is me - I don’t know what is going to happen.

"It is only when the referee says stop that we will know. Destiny will say."

Mrs Escribano said the entire family usually support Spain during other fixtures - but on Sunday, most will be cheering on Gareth Southgate's side.

"I think I will have to sit on the fence to keep the peace," she said.

Another divided couple are Jo Pons-Laplana, who is Spanish, and his partner Lucy Price, who is English.

They are planning a party at their home in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, with family and friends, including a tapas dinner to showcase some classic Spanish dishes.

Mr Pons-Laplana said: "Spain are very strong and I think we are going to win.

"We have the fantastic young player Lamine Yamal – I can’t believe he is 16 – he will win another trophy for Spain because we are just winning everything!"

He fears a victory may mean he'll be banished to the spare room - and if they lose, he warns he could be a sore loser.

"Jo does get grumpy," Ms Price said.

"I do get grumpy, I support Barcelona," Mr Pons-Laplana quipped.

"I am used to losing all the time with Barcelona!"

Ms Price said: "I think England are going to win, they've improved in every game and they really did play well in the semi-final - they did slow down in the second half but Ollie Watkins cemented it.

"So my prediction is it’s going to be one-nil to England."

Over in Spain on the Costa Blanca, expat Tracy Wait will be watching the game with her daughter at a fan zone in Benidorm.

The former HGV driver moved from Sheffield to the resort six years ago and now works for an airport transfer firm ferrying holidaymakers to and from Alicante's airport.

When Harry Kane netted his equalising penalty against the Netherlands on Wednesday, she heard "an earthquake" of celebrations while driving along the coast.

"The whole of Benidorm just exploded," she said.

"Unless you were here you can't explain the atmosphere, it was like electricity going through you," she recalled.

Ms Wait, who also hosts a bingo night, added: "I've watched England matches in England and thought I've had a good evening - but here you've got the heat, the atmosphere, everyone's on holiday and just enjoying themselves."

Jesus Garcia moved to Yorkshire from Spain in 1976 and calls himself an "honorary Yorkshireman".

He is set to travel from Wakefield to the Olympiastadion in Berlin and plans to wear an England shirt, with a Spanish one on underneath "just in case" he ends up in the opposing section of the crowd.

"I am very happy to be part of the atmosphere and I will be supporting England, but my mind and my heart are in unison and I think Spain are going to win," he said.

"Spain have the team spirit, which England have as well, but Spain have a record going back many years.

"I am no good at statistics, but the English ones are way easier to remember!"

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