Denmark fans have vowed to 'come by sea like the Vikings' as they raged at Covid rules which mean only expats living in the UK are able to attend tomorrow's blockbuster Euro 2020 semi-final against England at Wembley.
Denmark will face Gareth Southgate's men in front of a 60,000-strong crowd tomorrow - though only 8,000 of their own fans will be allowed to attend.
The allocation has triggered fury among Danes, with messaging Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Instagram directly and writing: 'Why the f*** are Danish fans not allowed at Wembley? If you don't allow us to take a plane we will do like in the good old days and come by sea. Be ready for a Danish sausage, w*******.'
Another fan wrote in the Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet: 'They think they can walk on water. But they will end up in deep water when the Vikings come.'
One notable exception to the ban on travelling Danish fans at the match will be the country’s Royal family.
Crown Prince Frederik, his wife Crown Princess Mary and their football-mad eldest son Prince Christian, 15, will all be at Wembley.
In Denmark, supporters lined the streets to wave off their team ahead of the match, as England prepare for the country's biggest football match in a generation.
Police were seen boarding up landmarks in central London ahead of the game, to prevent fans from scaling them.
Danish team heading for London and fans cheering as they wave them goodbye ahead of the match
A worker seen boarding up the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, also known as Eros, in Piccadilly Circus ahead of the Euro 2020 semi-finals and fina
Spirits appeared to be high among the Danish players as they headed to London today
Meanwhile, touting websites are flogging top tier tickets for the semi-final clash for up to £6,500 each.
If England advance to Sunday's final, Boris Johnson will also extend pub opening hours on Sunday night in case it goes into extra time and penalties, sources claim.
Pubs will be able to serve thirsty punters until 11.15pm - rather than the usual 10.30pm Sunday closing time - on the night of the Wembley showdown.
To help generate atmosphere despite being outnumbered, Danes living in Britain are being sent free Denmark football shirts and flags to help them cheer on their team.
Lars Thuesen, the country's ambassador in London, explained how the 30,000 or so Danes who live in the UK had been able to apply to buy each of around 5,000 tickets set aside for followers of the team.
Each fan had to produce ID showing their Danish citizenship and pay £10 to join the Danish supporters' association which made them eligible.
He said: 'That £10 is going to be used for flags and shirts and they are going to send them to Wembley to be ready on Wednesday evening,' he said. 'They are extremely excited. It is all over social media for Danes living in London. There is a huge interest.'
However, Danes remain furious at the Covid-hit arrangements for the match.
The English-language Copenhagen Post wrote: 'The storm over petty entry requirements, which ensure no Danish fans can travel to support their team in the Euro 2020 semi-final on Wednesday, is quickly escalating into the biggest affront to this country since the British Navy firebombed Copenhagen in 1807.
'Some observers might even go as far as saying it's cheating.'
The Danish Foreign Ministry tried to gain dispensation for travelling Danish fans, but was turned down, reported Danish channel TV2.
England's manager Gareth Southgate, left, and his assistant Steve Holland arrive for a training session at St George's Park
England's Harry Maguire, Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier, from left, arrive for a training session at St George's Park
Eros, seen in Piccadilly Circus ahead of the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final. The London landmark was boarded up ahead of the remaining football matches to protect the monument and to prevent fans from climbing it,
'The Danish ambassador in London has been in contact with the British authorities, but they refused to make a deal for the semi-final like the one made for the final,' it noted.
The Post railed: 'Denmark's infection rate has been very low of late – to the extent that its residents can travel to almost every country with similarly low rates in Europe.
'But the toys the UK threw out of its pram following Brexit are still on the floor. Its list of approved countries is widely considered as a joke (mostly Commonwealth members and obscure islands – so you're in luck British Indian Ocean Territory, whoever you might be) and only includes two EU countries: Malta and the touristy bits in Spain.
'To obtain entry to the UK, ten days of quarantine is necessary – even if you have been fully vaccinated. '
But that hasn't dampened surging optimism. One Denmark fan on Twitter joked ahead of the semi finals between Italy-Spain and England-Demark: 'Euro gold now awaits one of three great footballing nations. But you should never underestimate England either.'
Mette Jensen, 56, a financial adviser, is Danish-born but lives in Bristol and supports Bristol City. She will be going to Wembley with her daughter, Nathalie Gordon and has
