Even Germans need England to win Euros as fan dubs arriving Harry Kane ‘my king’

England arrived in Germany determined to unite the nation by finally ending 58 years of football hurt and even local fans seem to have a soft spot for the Three Lions.

Captain Harry Kane his squad into battle vowing to add to his record 63 goals to help them lift their first major international trophy since the 1966 World Cup.

The team’s Euro 2024 glory bid got the Royal seal of approval when William, the Prince of Wales, dropped into England’s UK HQ at St George’s Park to wave them off. And they received a heroes’ welcome when their aircraft touched down in Erfurt, where hundreds of fans from Germany, the UK and even Syria cheered and waved St George’s flags.

READ MORE: England to end 58 years of hurt as fortune teller says Euro glory is written in the veg

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Kane was greeted to chants of `Harry, Harry, Harry’ by fans of his German club Bayern Munich while England superstar midfielder Jude Bellingham was hailed `Belly, Belly, Belly’ as he waved from the team bus.

The players were taken from the airport 29 miles to the Weimarer Land Golf Hotel and Spa in Blankenhain where they will be based throughout the month-long tournament, which kicks off on Friday.

Fans were at fever pitch as they waited for England’s flight from Birmingham to land at Erfurt’s business terminal. Monica Weil, 28, a Kane-mad Bayern fan, tracked the privately-chartered Boeing 737’s progress on an internet app.

She said: “I’ve come here to see Harry face-to-face for the first time. He is my king, my legend. With him England can do anything.”

Conor Gallagher acknowledged the applause with a thumbs up while John Stones waved. But the biggest welcomes were saved for Kane and Bellingham.

As the team, dressed all in black, walked out of the terminal building and on to their coach, the gathered fans cheered each player in turn.

A party of six Syrian refugees, who came to Germany six months ago, frantically waved St George’s flags.

“Kane – he is here. I can’t believe it,” said one. Another said: “Bellingham, from Madrid. He is wow.”

Jackie Williams, 47, from Erfurt, who is German and married to a Welshman, said: “I used to work for a British company and always loved David Beckham so I have a soft spot for England.

“My friend’s daughter heard they were flying in today so we decided to come down and welcome them to Germany. Germany have improved lately so they do have a chance. But England have the best players.

“I want Germany to win of course but after that England are my favourite choice.”

Nikita Schlereth, 14, added: “I first started watching England at the last Euros and was devastated when they didn’t win. I think they have a great chance of winning the tournament – better than Germany.”

Her mum Tanya, 49, a dental nurse, said: “As soon as she heard England were flying in we had to come and greet them. I want Germany to win the tournament but if it’s not to be then hopefully England will be the winners.”

Student Camryn Lang, 22, travelled to the airport with childhood pal Jenny Pabst, also 22, and queued for an hour and 45 minutes to see Kane.

Camryn, who is studying social sciences and history at the University of Erfurt, said: “This is the most exciting thing to happen here for ages.”

Micele Alter, 36, and daughter Malica, aged six, and Micele’s friend Sven Meister, 34, took the day off from their roles at the airport in order to look out for the players.

But Malica was adamant: “Deutschland are going to win.”

Udo Ludwig, 69, and wife Dorit, 68, came to the airport because the pair are fans of Premier League football and wanted to see the stars close up.

“I should be quiet because we don’t watch the Bundesliga, we watch the Premier League on Sky. The teams have the best players in the world,” Udo said.

“Since I was 15 I have looked up to the English players.”

Prior to their departure, Wills saw the squad off by passing on some special advice from Prince Louis on how to win. The six-year-old told them to ‘eat twice the amount’ they normally do during the tournament.

Though FA president Wills, 41, confessed he was not sure his son’s advice will guarantee glory

In a rallying speech to the players, the prince said: “I was on the school run this morning with the children and I said, ‘What shall I say to the England team today?’ The best bit of advice I got to ask you was to eat twice the amount you normally would eat.

“So I then had visions of all of you running around with massive great tummies and loads of stitches on the pitch. So I think maybe take my youngest’s advice with a pinch of salt.”

The heir to the throne presented shirts to each of the 26 players selected for the squad and congratulated boss Gareth Southgate, 53, on reaching 150 matches with England – 57 as a player and 93 as manager – in the international against Belgium in March.

Captain Kane, 30, admitted Prince Louis’s fat-tics may not go down too well with the squad’s backroom staff.

“I don’t think our nutritionist will be happy with that advice,” he joked.

But he said it was ‘great’ to have the Royal seal of approval and the Prince of Wales’s visit would give the team ‘extra motivation’.

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