England were so boring they put me to sleep – but I wasn’t expecting to be woken up the way I was, says Three Lions fan
AN England fan pictured fast asleep during the goalless snore draw with Slovenia says he “wished he’d never woken up”.
Freddie Hahn, 32, summed up the mood of legions of Three Lions supporters as he nodded off in the stands during the soporific stalemate.
He told yesterday how he woke to the sound of booing — and the dull scoreline, which still secured top spot in our qualifying group.
Freddie — a pensions manager from Crawley, Sussex — said he had a great day out, having a few pints with mates. But the only thing that ruined it was the football.
He was enjoying his new-found fame yesterday after appearing sprawled in his stadium seat on yesterday’s Sun front page.
And he pledged to continue to back manager Gareth Southgate — but only if his lions liven up and deliver the trophy in Germany.
The dad of one said: “It was a very dull game. There wasn’t much going on and I thought I was better off asleep.
“There was a lot of booing at the end and that woke me up.
“I was actually having a nice dream about England winning the tournament — but I woke up to the nightmare of England’s performance.
“I’d been on the beers all day and just thought it’s better to close my eyes than see what was happening on the pitch.”
Southgate was booed, given the thumbs down and pelted with plastic beer cups by a section of fans after the draw in Cologne on Tuesday night.
It was just the latest in a dull campaign, which saw the one-time tournament favourites somehow grab top spot by scoring just two goals in three group games.
Freddie paid just £25 for his match ticket and flew to Germany with pals from the local soccer team Crawley Devils — from Southgate’s home town.
He said: “We actually attended the same secondary school. I didn’t boo him when I woke up because he’s from the same place as me and I didn’t want to be too harsh on him.
“But to be honest, I could probably do a better job than him.”
The England coach was yesterday battling to energise his £1.2billion superstar squad as they bid to lift their first footie silverware in 58 years.
Freddie admitted seven or eight pints of beer knocked back in sunny Cologne before the game had him dozing in his seat even before kick-off.
He said: “We came into the city very early, had a fantastic lunch and started drinking.
‘Good laugh’
“There was a real party atmosphere and no trouble. It was a fantastic occasion. The only thing that ruined it was what happened on the pitch.”
Freddie, who has a one-year-old son with his partner, Tash Copsey, said he is known for falling asleep, especially at parties.
He said: “I didn’t realise a picture of me sleeping would become such a big thing. My partner and family are having a good laugh about it.
“I’ve had lots of messages. People find it really hilarious, really funny.
A lot of people know me as the bloke who falls asleep at parties, but I’ve never done it in a packed football stadium before
“I’m the most famous England fan in the world at the moment.
“A lot of people know me as the bloke who falls asleep at parties, but I’ve never done it in a packed football stadium before.
“I put it down to my busy life and the fact that I’ve got a young child.
“It was nice to get out to Germany and spend some time with the lads.”
Freddie manages football team Step Seven in the Mid Sussex league and added: “I think I put my players to sleep sometimes with my team talks.
“I love going to watch England away and I’ve had a great time and hopefully Gareth and the boys can turn it around. It was a frustrating game because we have so much talent at our disposal.”
Freddie flew back to England yesterday — and has no plans to return to Germany.