While Wimbledon spectators aren’t required to follow the tournament’s all-white dress code, many unintentionally adhered to it on Wednesday by donning England soccer shirts in anticipation of the team’s Euro 2024 semi-final clash later in the evening.
Gareth Southgate’s England team was set to face the Netherlands in Dortmund, vying for a spot in Sunday’s final. With the match not scheduled to start until 8 PM local time, fans had ample opportunity to enjoy the quarter-final tennis action at the All England Club.
Typically, Wimbledon attendees prefer a smart casual look, complete with panama hats and blazers. However, on this day, numerous tennis fans proudly sported the Three Lions on their chests, ready to dash off to venues screening the football match. Due to Wimbledon’s strict rules, other sports aren’t shown on the big screens around the grounds.
Concerns about any potential scheduling conflicts were alleviated earlier in the day when second seed Novak Djokovic received a walkover. His opponent, Alex de Minaur, withdrew from their Centre Court match, which was second on the day’s schedule, due to an injury.
Previously, fans on Centre Court had been spotted watching England’s quarter-final penalty shootout win over Switzerland on their phones while Djokovic played against Alexei Popyrin. With Djokovic’s Wednesday match canceled, fans had the chance to relax and enjoy the rare rain-free day at Wimbledon before one of the most significant moments in recent English football history.
