It is less than a week to England’s opening game against Croatia and excitement for the tournament at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium increased last week.
Consecutive 1-0 wins against Austria and Romania weren’t the most compelling performances for The Three Lions, but it was clear Gareth Southgate was leading his squad after a busy domestic season.
Still, the chance to see Premier League stars like Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Aston Villas Jack Grealish was very much welcomed by fans, many of whom have not been to the Riverside for over a year.
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While Covid-19 restrictions resulted in the Riverside’s capacity being limited to 25 percent for the two games, it was still refreshing to see fans arrive at the stadium.
There was excitement as fans took their seats, applauded the players as they warmed up, and started chants from the stands.
There was a moment against Romania in the first half when a group of fans chanted “Declan, give us a wave” to replace Declan Rice. The West Ham midfielder duly fulfilled this obligation, much to the satisfaction of the fans.
After a year of playing behind closed doors, these are some of the little things that make a big difference. Games in creepy, empty stadiums aren’t much fun.
In both games, there was an awkward moment before kick-off when fans whistled for the players who took their knees, despite the majority of fans responding with applause in both cases to drown it out.
Rockliffe appeared to be an ideal place for England to step up preparations for this summer’s tournament, as the team’s three group matches will all be played at Wembley.
“I think the players enjoyed it,” Southgate said ahead of the friendly.
“We had the training facility when I was the manager here, but the hotel was still being built.
“To be able to go over to training in these Covid times and to minimize travel times – that was important, and in the weather we could eat outside.”
Before these games, it was 18 years since England’s senior team had last played at Riverside.
Her return was welcomed by many. Hopefully it was the beginning of a successful summer.
