'It's our time': Excitement builds on South Gate

England manager Gareth Southgate following the semi-final victory over Holland

Gareth Southgate is the talk of the country right now ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2024 final with Spain and he has also been the talk of the town on South Gate in a Lincolnshire town.

BBC News went to the road in Sleaford to assess the mood ahead of kick-off.

It is one of the main streets through the town and shares its name with the England manager. However, not everyone has been his biggest fan despite leading the Three Lions to a second successive European Championship final.

Ollie Watkins’ late winner against Netherlands on Wednesday evening has set up a showdown with Spain where England’s players will be hoping they can go one better than in 2020, when they lost on penalties to Italy at Wembley.

And as plenty of shoppers stocked up on supplies ahead of the big match, the nerves were evident.

South Gate in Sleaford is one of the town's main streets

Brian Price, 77, is originally from Nottingham but now lives in the town. He knows what England glory looks like having watched his country lift the World Cup in 1966.

And although the retired landscape gardener thinks Southgate has been cutting it a little bit fine with his tactics, he is convinced he will see another success.

“He’s not really won me over,” said the Notts County fan.

“All the opponents need to do is stand on the halfway line because all we do is pass back 95% of the time. I don’t think he’s made his substitutions at the right times, but he knows better than me he’s the manager.

“I think it’s our time. We didn’t do it last time, but we’ll do it this time. He’s taken a young squad and providing he uses them in the correct way we should beat Spain. I watched the ‘66 final, that was very good with a good group of footballers.”

Brian and Sandra Price will be watching the match on Sunday

Brian’s wife, Sandra, 75, enjoys watching England and agrees with her husband when it comes to Southgate’s tactics.

She will be watching the match at home with a glass of wine and thinking about her two grandsons, who are watching the final in Greece.

“I am surprised they are in the final, I didn’t think they would win against the Netherlands,” she added.

“I thought they did really well but I think Brian’s right about substitutions. He [Southgate] should have made them quicker. The minute he brought one on he scored a goal, so I don’t know where Southgate’s coming from.

“They don’t play football like we recognise football with the older generation of people who played but I think we will do it. It’s exciting to be on South Gate ahead of Sunday. I can’t wait.”

Paul Sanders is a Barnsley fan who works in Sleaford and he is fully behind the manager

One mum finds the time to tell the BBC that her 10-year-old son has been listening to iconic England anthem Three Lions.

“He’s singing it in the back of the car,” she said.

Paul Sanders was one of those on South Gate flying the flag for the manager. The 60 year old is a Barnsley fan from Grantham but works in Sleaford.

Regardless of the result, he has two feet firmly in the Southgate camp.

He said: “I think we are sometimes a little too critical. I think he’s done a really good job.

“The England team is criticised far too much, our expectations are too much. We are very good in this country at pulling people down.

"I listen to Radio 5 Live in a morning and at the beginning of the week we were all criticising him and at the end of the week we all love him.

“Spain are the best team without a doubt but from the word go I thought England would win this competition and with a bit of luck I think we can still win it. Our hero this time will be Phil Foden.”

Optician Ayaaz Ashraf is not the biggest football fan but will be watching the final on Sunday

Meanwhile, optician Ayaaz Ashraf, 25, will have his eyes glued to the television set on Sunday but thinks the match is too close to call.

Originally from Bradford, Ayaaz has been living in Sleaford for the past year and is not a big football fan but, just like everyone else, has been caught up in the excitement.

“I don’t watch too much football but I am excited that England is in the final and I will be watching,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough match and I think it will be close.”

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