Inventive fans are exploring every route possible for a chance to glimpse the Three Lions in the Euros final and the end of 58 years of hurt.
Fans face journeys of over 30 hours for the opportunity to watch the England men’s team win the tournament for the first time in Berlin.
Thousands of mammoth drives, savings-destroying flights and lengthy rail journeys will take place before kick-off on Sunday evening.
Social media has been full of supporters scheming alternative routes across Europe, from Turkey to Norway, to reach Berlin.
Spent the entire afternoon trying to sort it out. Only flights now are indirect and massive transfer times. Forget other German cities, Poland, Czech Republic - all gone. We’re getting the ferry tomorrow evening, driving to Antwerp to a hotel and then driving across on Saturday🏴
— Wallingford Paul (@PaulWallingford) July 11, 2024
England fan Ryan Brooks told the Standard he plans to leave home at 2.30am on Saturday before driving for 16 hours across four countries to reach the German capital.
The 31-year-old is looking at driving through France, Belgium and Switzerland with two friends to try and watch the game in a Berlin fan zone.
He said: “The only stop we’re going to do is probably at McDonald’s to keep us going. We won’t be doing any sightseeing.
“It will be worth it regardless of if we win or lose. We’re in the hosting country. If we lose I’ll still be able to say I was there”.
Meanwhile, England fan James Glonek managed to secure a £235 return flight from London Heathrow to Stuttgart and will be watching the final in person.
He will travel to the German city on Saturday morning before travelling to Berlin in the afternoon.
Mr Glonek, who goes to as many England games as he can, told the Standard: “I had given up refreshing Skyscanner and got very lucky with the ones we found.
“Only paid £21.99 for a FlixTrain ticket from Stuttgart to Berlin. We are going to the match. The final is just the pinnacle. Would mean a hell of a lot to see us win it.”
Other options for fans have included flying to Berlin via Antalya or Prague, with flights home stopping at Mallorca, Osla or Vienna, according to Skyscanner.
Flight prices have skyrocketed to over £500 for some one-way trips to Berlin.
England fans can expect to pay an average of £508 for a round-trip to the German capital, according to data from travel site Kayak, with London airports faring the best value - although tickets are extremely rare.
Brave Londoners are also planning to travel from Stratford in east London to the German capital on the coach.
A small number of Flixbus tickets were still available on Friday morning, but cost between £100 and £230.
Josh Eeles, 26, left London Victoria on a Flixbus coach at 10am on Friday and is expected to arrive in Berlin, just shy of 20 hours later at 5.40am on Saturday.
The fan has yet to find a ticket for the match or accommodation.
He said: “I was meant to be in an important meeting on Monday so didn’t think I could make it, but my team sorted it for me to getthere and back in time. Unreal scenes.”
Journey times for some coach journeys were over 30 hours long due to transfer waits.
