By Poppy Atkinson Gibson
Published: | Updated:
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161 View commentsA football fan with an England 'Euro Winners' tattoo does not intend to cover it up and said he 'still loves' the permanent ink, despite the Three Lions defeat.
Dan Thomas, 29, from Swindon, Wiltshire, was so confident in Gareth Southgate's team that he got a tattoo of the Henri Delaunay Cup and the words 'England Euro 2024 Winners' on his left leg just days before the final.
Despite the crushing result last night, the data consultant has said he does not intend to cover it up even after England's 2-1 loss against Spain.
Mr Thomas remains confident the Three Lions will become winners at the next tournament in 2028 and plans to alter his tattoo in four years.
Just moments after the final Mr Thomas said: 'We came close, I don't regret the tattoo'.
Dan Thomas, 29, from Swindon, Wiltshire, was so confident England would win the Euros that he got a tattoo commemorating the team but says despite the defeat he doesn't regret it
The data consultant had theHenri Delaunay Cup and the words 'England Euro 2024 Winners' tattooed on his upper left thigh after England beat the Netherlands
England's wait for a first major men's trophy since 1966 goes on after they suffered a brutal defeat at the hands of the Spanish team following goals fromNico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Luis de le Fuente's team have now inflicted a second successive European Championship final defeat on Gareth Southgate’s side.
Despite the defeat, the 29-year-old doesn't regret his tattoo and hopes it can be re-purposed for the 228 Euros tournament.
He said: '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.'
Mr Thomas described the results 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.
'I think England played well. I'd say (Marc) Guehi was the stand-out player in the match, however (Kobbie) Mainoo has made the difference over the course of the tournament.'
He added: 'It's only a matter of time before we win something.'
The inking took more than two hours and the tattoo artist 'triple checked' with the 29-year-old before he want ahead. Mr Thomas is now hoping it can be re-purposed for the 2028 tournament
Mr Thomas livestreamed his tattooing to more than 42,000 people on Tiktok and doesn't have a single regret - he's even urged other England fans to get their own football tattoos to support the team
Mr Thomas has urged other England fans to get their own tattoos to show their support for the Three Lions ahead of the next Euros after he got his inking following England's victory over the Netherlands.
'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.'
Mr Thomas considered getting a similar tattoo in 2021 when England faced Italy in the Euro 2020 final and had hoped this year's tattoo would help to secure Southgate's team victory.
The confident England supporter spent two and a half hours at the Reign Barbers and Tattoos parlour in Swindon getting the sizeable tattoo of the Henri Delaunay Cup.
He livestreamed the moment he had the artwork tattooed on his leg, which was watched by more than 42,000 people on TikTok.
Tattoo artist Tinashe Chikerema who undertook the two-and-a-half-hour project 'triple checked' with the data consultant that he wanted it done before going ahead with the permanent inking.
He said: '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 Thomas's friend, Jack Wilkinson, who owns Reign Barbers and Tattoos, did not believe Mr Thomas would go ahead with the tattoo 'until the needle actually touched the skin'.
Mr Wilkinson 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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