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Sir Keir Starmer punched the air as he celebrated England’s last minute victory against the Netherlands in their Euro 2024 semi-final in front of his Dutch counterpart during the NATO summit.
The Prime Minister was able to watch some of the game while attending the event in Washington DC and got out of his seat as Harry Kane fired in the equalizer to cancel out Xavi Simons opener, before Ollie Watkins sent the Three Lions to their second successive European final with his late strike.
Sir Keir watched the game with the Netherlands’ Prime Minister Dick Schoof and shook his hand after celebrating the equalizer, before posting on X: ‘Picked the right moment to pop out from Nato meetings and check the score…’
At full-time, the newly elected leader attended a meeting at the Oval Office with US President Joe Biden and was asked if football was coming home, and said: ‘It looks like it.
‘It’s because of the Prime Minister,’ Mr Biden replied.
Sir Keir, who is expected to be in attendance for the final in Berlin on Sunday, also joked: ‘They [England] haven’t lost a game under the Labour Government.’
Sir Keir watched the game with the Netherlands’ Prime Minister Dick Schoof and shook his hand after celebrating Harry Kane’s equalizer
At full-time, the newly elected leader attended a meeting at the Oval Office with US President Joe Biden
The PM had previously said he believed he would be relying on officials secretly passing him notes to keep track of the game during a meeting of Nato’s North Atlantic Council.
He told reporters: ‘I understand our phones are all taken off us, when we go into the council, so I’ve no doubt we’ll be passed lots of notes with really important information about the summit, and one or two of those notes hopefully will be an update on the score, because I’m not going to be able to get it otherwise.
‘I’ve sent a message to the team, obviously I wish them well, I want them to win, and let’s hope they can do it tomorrow.’
In a post on X after the game, he said: ‘What a game @England and what a winner. Berlin here we come!’
Starmer was not the only one to send a message to the England team after Wednesday’s win, as King Charles cheekily urged Gareth Southgate’s side to avoid ‘more penalties drama’ for the sake of the nation’s stress levels in Sunday’s final.
Charles and Prince William sent the players the royal family’s ‘very best wishes’ and ‘warmest congratulations’ following the historic 2-1 win.
King Charles (pictured) has cheekily urged England to avoid ‘more penalties drama’ for the sake of the nation’s stress levels
The monarch congratulated England on their 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday night
Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins led the celebrations after scoring a 90th minute winner
Prince William also congratulated the England squad. He was not in attendance for the semi-final but he joined the wild celebrations when Bukayo Saka scored against Switzerland last Saturday
But the King quipped about the recent drama endured by England fans, including a last-gasp equaliser in the second round against Slovakia and a penalty triumph against Switzerland in the quarter-final, asking them to watch out for the nation’s blood pressure in the final clash with Spain.
He said: ‘My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the U.E.F.A. European Championship – and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday’s match.
‘If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated!
‘Good luck, England.’
The Prince of Wales, who is a Villa fan, also congratulated England and singled out Watkins for praise in a message on social media.
He said: ‘What a beauty, Ollie! Congratulations England! #EURO2024 Finalists.’
It is understood William, who is president of the Football Association, is likely to travel to Berlin for the final on Sunday.
