TAT'S MADNESS
Brazen England fans don ‘winners’ tattoos before Euros 2024 final even begins as supporters say ‘it’s coming home’
Pictures reveal how one tatted England fan might regret his decision
BRAZEN England fans have donned Euro 2024 winners tattoos before the final even begins.
Multiple Three Lions supporters have been inked in the days since Gareth Southgate's men saw off the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday night.
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Dan Thomas, from Swindon, Wiltshire, is among those who is ultra-confident England will defeat Spain tonight in Berlin and end 58 years of hurt.
The data consultant spent two and a half hours getting a trophy and the words "England Euro 2024 Winners" tattooed on his leg three days ago.
The 29-year-old went to the Reign Barbers and Tattoos parlour in Swindon on Thursday - the day after Ollie Watkins' last minute strike booked the nation's place in the final.
"I thought (England) would get far, so it's come as no shock," he said.
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"I'm pretty confident. I think it will happen. I wouldn't have got it done if I didn't think it would happen.
"I think it will be close and I think it will be 1-1, but go to extra time. I think we'll win 2-1 at extra time."
Mr Thomas considered getting a similar tattoo in 2021 when England faced Italy in the Euro 2020 final, but hopes this year's tattoo will secure Southgate's team victory.
"I went into the studio and just said it would be great to have (the tattoo). I was joking, but then I thought, 'actually, no, I'm really confident I'm going to get it done' so it was a spur of the moment, last minute thing," he said.
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"My tattooist has already told me that as a punishment if they do lose then he's not going to cover it up for at least a year."
Mr Thomas livestreamed the moment he had the artwork tattooed to his leg, which received 42,000 views on TikTok, and he has encouraged others considering getting a similar tattoo to "go and get it".
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"They're going to win so you may as well get it before the queues start on Monday," he said.
Mr Thomas's friend, Jack Wilkinson, who owns Reign Barbers and Tattoos, did not believe Mr Thomas would go ahead with the tattoo "until the needle actually touched the skin".
Mr Wilkinson said: "I thought it was a joke to start with, 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."
Tattoo artist Tinashe Chikerema applied the ink, not before he "triple checked" with the data consultant if he wanted it done.
"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," Mr Chikerema said.
"I predict the score will be 3-1 to England, and I hope (Eberechi) Eze scores, as he's my favourite player."
Meanwhile, Mr Wilkinson believes the game will end on penalties, but admits he does not share the same certainty as Mr Thomas.
"I think it will be 1-1 and then they'll potentially win on penalties. I'm not as confident as Dan. I've got a lot of tattoos, but I wouldn't go that far."
He said the Euros has been a "nice boost" for business particularly after his shop struggled during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We've had quite a few queries off the back of (Dan's tattoo)," he explained.
"We're a barbers as well and we don't always open on Sundays - we do it on booking only - but we've got quite a few people coming in who want their hair cut before the game.
"I think from a business point of (the Euros) has helped the country with the England team doing well.
"The economy has been struggling recently, especially since Covid, and I think it has been a nice boost, especially for SMEs (small and midsize enterprises) like myself."
Meanwhile, fellow die-hard football fan Jack Pancaldi also got a brave tattoo while on holiday in Portugal.
And the 20-year-old got it done before the Three Lions had even got past the semi-finals.
What's more, "England" has been spelled wrong and reads: "Engerland 2024 Winners".
Pal Oliver Adams wasted no time in documenting Jack's new ink on social media - roasting him for the spelling fail.
Oliver, also 20, filmed the ink in its full glory, asking Jack what he had done before adding: "Look at the state of it."
Where to watch the Euro 2024 final tonight
- England vs Spain will be broadcast LIVE on BBC One AND ITV 1 in the UK.
- Coverage is expected to commence from 7pm BST on both channels - an hour before kick-off.
- Fans can stream the entire action through BBC iPlayer or ITV X via any compatible device.
- Alternatively, head to SunSport's live blog to keep up with the whole match including pre and post-match coverage.
However, taking it in his stride, Jack proudly showed off his tattoo and laughed as Oliver zoomed into his chest.
Oliver captioned the video - which got thousands of views on TikTok: "It's coming home" and gave some context to the tattoo.
He said: "He got it after watching England vs Switzerland while we were on a lad's holiday in Albufeira, Portugal."
Another confident fan 'Ben' was congratulated by BRUX tattoo studio for his optimism after getting an inking on his back listing England as winners of the Euros.
It comes after he made several blunders listing the Three Lions as winners in 2020 when the team was runners up, as well as World Cup victors in 2018 and 2022 before having them all crossed off.
Sharing a video of the latest bold prediction being applied on Instagram, the studio wrote: "Come on England! Thanks Ben, love the optimism mate."
The clip had the 1998 version of Baddiel, Skinner & Lightning Seeds' Three Lions anthem.
One wrote: “Why doesn't he wait until afterwards? Will he not have enough time when it happens?”
Another joked: “This tattoo will get another red line this Sunday.”
A third said that he “jinxed it” while others claimed that they “love the confidence”.
While others were also annoyed that he had completely ignored the Lionesses Euro 2022 triumph.
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It comes after Brazilian model Tyffany Santos said a fan paid £7,000 for her to have Jude Bellingham's name inked below her belly button ahead of England's semi-final clash against the Netherlands last week.
The model recently went viral for wearing nothing but body paint in the colours of the Brazilian national team on the London underground.
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