They came over land and sea, just like they always hoped. Some direct, into one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Others via Barcelona, Madrid or Malaga, which aren’t too bad either.

At Luton airport, one supporter arrived four-and-a-half hours early for his flight because he couldn’t sleep. Others asked aircraft marshals to take their photos in front of the plane, for posterity. And why not: they had waited 10,780 days for this.

In Seville on Wednesday afternoon, red shirts milled around the Parque de Maria Luisa in a bid to clear fuzzy heads. Many others had a different strategy, collecting around bar stools in the sun. At one, club co-owner Sokratis Kominakis picked up an 800 Euro bill and posed for selfies.

Flags hung on metal railings, a roll call of the towns of home: Staplefo

See Full Page