Supporters pour into Berlin for Sunday’s showdown against Spain, and Starmer writes letter to Southgate and squad

It’s the night before the European Championship final and at the Olympiastadion two worlds are colliding. Outside the security cordon a delegation of suits and some obvious muscle are discussing provisions for the arrival of a dignitary, described euphemistically as “a member of the FA board” (ie its president, Prince William). Twenty yards away, meanwhile, stands a removal van plastered in massive pictures of Kieran Trippier and the message “Bury boys on Tour”. It contains seven lads who are scoping out the arena but also bemoaning the fact they slept in the van the night before: “It stank like anything in the morning.”

Everybody wants to be in Berlin for the game – be they Prince, punter, or prime minister. After a hectic first week in office which featured transatlantic diplomacy at the Nato summit in Washington, Keir Starmer will begin week two watching England’s men’s team play for glory as they take on Spain in their first ever overseas final.