AN ENGLAND fan who made headlines for getting an "England Euro 2024 winners" tattoo three days before the final says he has no regrets.
Dan Thomas, from Swindon, was so confident the Three Lions would beat Spain in Sunday’s final that he got his left leg inked with the message alongside an image of the Henri Delaunay Cup.
But despite England’s 2-1 defeat, following substitute Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner, the 29-year-old says he still loves the tattoo.
He remains confident that England will end their wait for a first major men’s trophy since 1966 in four years time, and even has plans to have his ink altered if they do.
“We came close, I don’t regret the tattoo,” the data consultant told the PA news agency moments after the Euro final.
“If anything, I don’t think it’d be hard to change the 4 into an 8 in four years time.
“I won’t be covering it up. Absolutely no regrets and I still love it.”
READ MORE: England fan gets Euro 2024 winners tattoo BEFORE the final
Dan Thomas' Euro 2024 winners tattoo (Image: PA)
Mr Thomas described the result of the match as “bittersweet” and praised the team for reaching the final.
“Bittersweet after the game, the result wasn’t what we wanted, but a great achievement to reach yet another final,” he said.
“It’s only a matter of time before we win something.”
Mr Thomas has urged other England fans to follow his lead and show their support for the team at major tournaments.
“I don’t really tend to look at the comments on my tattoo. Other people’s opinions don’t phase me,” he said.
“I’d encourage others to do the same in following tournaments to get behind the team.”
Tattoo artist Tinashe Chikerema applied the ink to Mr Thomas’s skin during a two-and-a-half-hour session at Reign Barbers and Tattoos parlour in Swindon, which was livestreamed to 42,000 people.
Dan Thomas (Image: Dan Thomas/PA)
“I couldn’t believe he actually wanted the tattoo, but I triple-checked with him. Fair play to him for being so confident in the team,” Mr Chikerema told PA.
Mr Thomas’s friend, Jack Wilkinson, who owns the tattoo parlour, did not believe Mr Thomas would go ahead with the tattoo “until the needle actually touched the skin”.
He said: “I thought it was a joke to start with, but he said he was full of confidence and wanted to be the first one to get it done before everyone else gets it done after they win.
“It still feels surreal that he actually got it done. It sums up Dan as a person. He’s quite eccentric and Mr Positive.”
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