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Euro 2024: Excitement hitting fever pitch for fans

Hafsa Khalil and Hollie Cole
BBC News
PA Media English fan plays football with a Spanish fan in BerlinPA Media
An early version of England's clash with Spain got under way in the Berlin sun against the historic backdrop of the Brandenburg Gate

The excitement is building ahead of England aiming to create footballing history later against Spain in Berlin's Olympiastadion.

Tens of thousands of England fans have been pouring into the German capital and not all of them are lucky enough to have tickets - there are reports of some changing hands for thousands of pounds.

Every bar, café and fan zone is awash with fans from both teams counting down the hours until kick-off.

Here is a photographic flavour of the atmosphere.

PA England fans hold up a replica Euro 2024 trophyPA
These fans have been parading with a replica trophy around Berlin's Breitscheidplatz
Andrew Milligan/PA Media Spanish fan holds sign asking for a ticket to the gameAndrew Milligan/PA Media
This optimistic Spanish fan is hoping against hope that he can land a last-minute ticket for the final. Good luck with that, amigo...
Ben Birchall/PA Media England fans at Weidendammer Brucke in Berlin Ben Birchall/PA Media
Berlin's Weidendammer bridge has been given a new look in recent days by England fans - can you spot your local area among these flags?
Reuters Man with a fake horse strapped to him speaks into a microphone on a stage in front of a crowd of Spain's fans wearing red and yellowReuters
Spain's fans are riding into a fiesta ahead of the game in
PA Two women wearing England shirts cheer with their fists pumping the airPA
This happy duo in Berlin hope to be cheering and fist-pumping the air for England later

The party is not just happening in .

England fans at home and overseas on holiday are also getting in on the action, from transforming streets into a sea of white and red flags, to heading down to fan zones to watch the game.

And some are showing their in more permanent ways.

Dan Thomas from Swindon has already declared the Three Lions as champions with a tattoo on his leg of a trophy and the words: "England Euro 2024 Winners."

More than 42,000 people watched him go under the needle in a process that took two and a half hours.

Jack Wilkinson/PA Media Man tattoos trophy and words: "England Euro 2024 Winners" on his leg ahead of the final.Jack Wilkinson/PA Media
Confidence or bravado? Dan Thomas from Swindon has made it abundantly clear how he thinks tonight's final will go!
Getty Images Kirby estate in London decorated with England flagsGetty Images
Dressed in their finest: Back home, the Kirby estate in London is not exactly short of flags ahead of the final

's Brandenburg Gate has become a hotspot for fans - both English and Spanish - to come dressed in their football Sunday best and pose in their country colours.

And fans have not just confined themselves to the city's historic monument - they have been getting the party started right across Berlin.

Reuters Spain fan plays a drum in front of a crowd of Spanish fans wearing red and yellowReuters
Ole!, ole!, ole! Banging the drum - literally - for Spain
EPA A man wears a suit covered in the England flag and has on a pair of black sunglassesEPA
There is limited space for more England flags on this man's suit
PA Man wearing Spanish scarf round his neck places a plastic bull on the ground in front of a crowdPA
Toro bravo! Small in stature but impressive - this plastic bull takes centre stage among these Spanish fans in Berlin

Central Berlin has been transformed as fans deck out the German capital in their team colours ahead of tonight's match - with some fans adopting crazy hair style colours.

PA Two men wear England shirts and red and white hats with red and white hair attached to itPA
Fans come in all shapes and sizes... and hairstyles, real or otherwise
PA Four England fans smile for the camera, with one bowing his head to show it shaved and dyed red to be a red cross.PA
Sam Tattersall wears his devotion on his head with the St George's Cross - a haircut he says "could stay for a year" if England win
PA Spanish fans smile with a Spanish flag with bright red and yellow wigsPA
And these Spanish fans are also getting in on the crazy hair colour act!