An England fan who got a ‘Euro 2024 winners tattoo’ before the match that they ultimately lost says he doesn’t regret it.
Dan Thomas was so confident the Three Lions would be crowned champions at yesterday’s final against Spain in Berlin he had the trophy etched onto his left leg days earlier.
Sadly, his prediction did not come through and Gareth Southgate’s team lost 2-1.
But 29-year-old Dan, from Swindon, says he ‘still loves’ the tattoo and doesn’t plan to cover it up.
He remains confident England will be winners at the next tournament in 2028 and is considering tweaking the tattoo then.
The data consultant said: ‘We came close, I don’t regret the tattoo.
‘If anything, I don’t think it’d be hard to change the 4 into an 8 in four years time. I won’t be covering it up. Absolutely no regrets and I still love it.’
Dan described the match result as ‘bittersweet’ and praised the team for reaching the final.
‘The result wasn’t what we wanted, but a great achievement to reach yet another final,’ he said.
‘It’s only a matter of time before we win something.
‘I think England played well. I’d say (Marc) Guehi was the stand-out player in the match, however (Kobbie) Mainoo has made the difference over the course of the tournament.’
He urged other England fans to get their own tattoos to show their support for the Three Lions ahead of the next Euros.
He also said he won’t look at online comments about the tattoo, adding ‘Other people’s opinions don’t phase me’.
Dan live streamed his tattoo being done at the Reign Barbers and Tattoos parlour in Swindon on TikTok and 42,000 people tuned in to watch.
Speaking afterwards, tattoo parlour owner Jack Wilkinson, who is friends with Dan, said didn’t believe Dan would go ahead with it ‘until the needle actually touched the skin’.
‘I thought it was a joke to start with,’ Jack said. ‘But he said he was full of confidence and wanted to be the first one to get it done before everyone else gets it done after they win.
‘It still feels surreal that he actually got it done. It sums up Dan as a person. He’s quite eccentric and Mr Positive.
’I’m not as confident as Dan. I’ve got a lot of tattoos, but I wouldn’t go that far.’
However, the artists at Reign Barbers and Tattoo parlour in Swindon where Dan had the work done have warned him if England lose, they will punish him by not covering it up for ‘at least a year’.
Tattoo parlour owner Jack Wilkinson, who is friends with Dan, said he didn’t believe he would go ahead with it ‘until the needle actually touched the skin’.
‘I thought it was a joke to start with,’ Jack said. ‘But he said he was full of confidence and wanted to be the first one to get it done before everyone else gets it done after they win.
‘It still feels surreal that he actually got it done. It sums up Dan as a person. He’s quite eccentric and Mr Positive.
’I’m not as confident as Dan. I’ve got a lot of tattoos, but I wouldn’t go that far.’
Tinashe Chikereman, the artist who tattooed the UEFA European Championship trophy onto Dan the day after England beat the Netherlands in the semi-final, said he checked three times if he definitely wanted it.
He said: ‘I couldn’t believe he actually wanted the tattoo, but I triple-checked with him. Fair play to him for being so confident in the team.’
This isn’t the first time Dan considered getting a similar tattoo – he was also tempted to get one in 2021 before England lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
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