What actually happens if England beat Spain to win UEFA Euro 2024? Many have been asking ahead of Sunday’s final.
The concept of winning a major tournament has not exactly been on the mind of most England supporters for many years, as the nation becomes accustomed to a life without silverware 58 years on from our first – and only – taste of glory, the 1966 World Cup.
Now – however – Gareth Southgate‘s side are one game away from securing a first ever European Championship for England.
What would that entail? Let’s take a look…
What actually happens if Gareth Southgate and England bring football home?
To begin with, let’s take a look at the concrete developments that will definitely happen.
England will bank €8m (£6.9m) in prize money for winning Euro 2024 – as seen on UEFA’s official website – which will presumably be distributed amongst the playing staff and coaches, rather than end up in the Football Association’s back pocket.
Furthermore, the Three Lions will be granted the right to wear UEFA’s European Championship winner’s patch on their shirt for at least the next four years – and longer if England win the next European Championship as well.
You can see an example of the badge of honour below.
England will also be awarded an exact replica of the European Championship trophy – named the Henri Delaunay Cup after the former president of the French Football Federation (FFF) and UEFA’s first general secretary – if they beat Spain in Berlin.
UEFA keep the actual trophy to themselves, but England can take a life-size replica back to Wembley.
What could potentially happen if England beat Spain?
Now onto the potentialities.
If Southgate defeats Luis de la Fuente inside the Olympiastadion on Sunday, it could see the 53-year-old receive a knighthood.
The Telegraph believe it was almost certain to happen had England won UEFA Euro 2020, and the man from Watford is highly likely to become Sir Gareth Southgate if the Three Lions overcome Spain.
That same story states that Harry Kane would also be likely to see his MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) upgraded into an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire).
Additionally, England could win the nation a day off in the form of a Bank Holiday on Monday.
Boris Johnson hinted that it would happen if England beat Italy in the UEFA Euro 2020 final, and Sir Kier Starmer put pressure on his political opponent at the time to make it happen, telling the Mirror: “The whole country is incredibly proud of what Gareth Southgate and our England heroes have achieved already.
“History has been made. If we win on Sunday, the country should get the chance to celebrate it properly with an extra Bank Holiday, granted in the name of the England team.”
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Of course, Italy ultimately beat England on penalties and the matter was left as a mere talking point, but if the Three Lions taste glory on this occasion, Starmer would look quite the hypocrite if he did not declare a Bank Holiday.
Hopefully, football comes home on Sunday, after 58 long, painful years away.