The Euros are now under way and we’re looking back at the football contest and the passion it has inspired.
The 2024 tournament is the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international football event organised by UEFA for the European men’s national teams of its member associations.
Germany is hosting, and it began on June 14 and will run for a month, with the winner later competing in the 2025 CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions against the 2024 Copa América winner.
The tournament comprises 24 teams, with Georgia the only one making its European Championship finals debut.
Italy are the defending champions, having won the 2020 tournament against England on penalties in the final.
The Euros are always eagerly watched in Cumbria and in 2016, Jackson Brooks, six, from Vallum Gardens, Carlisle, was so disgusted with England’s performance that he wrote to the Football Association to apply for the manager’s job.
He is pictured with his team tactics blackboard and above is the FA’s written response agreeing that the team wasn’t good enough.
Keen to keep his customers happy, Mike Grierson, landlord of The Royal Scot, on Lanrigg Road, Morton, Carlisle, showed all the Euro 2016 football games on big screens.
One of the floats at Abbeytown Carnival was Euro-themed and ahead of the Portugal v Wales match, Portugal fans gathered to show their support. Pictured in Morton, Carlisle, are Joel Vilchez, front, with back from left, Luis Pinto, Jose Rei and Leonardo Peres, 14, plus Elijah Vilchez, eight, and Evangeline Vilchez, six.
Staff at Nasza Biedronka International Mini Market, in Botchergate, declared their allegiance to Poland, with Jwona Jozefowica, Alan Salih, Luca Skupny and Kamila Gula proudly displaying the team’s scarf.
Netherton and Maryport infants got together to hold a Euro-inspired football contest and pupils at Belle Vue Primary School watched the action in the school hall. Holding England flags are Sophie Bedlington, Emily Watson and Lydia King.
Our final image is of cute children in England football strips at Cleator Moor Nursery. Cheering the country on are Lillie-Marie Dolan, Cohen Maxwell and Lois Hodgson.
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