As they prepare for the Euro 2022 semi final, a family of British-Swedish soccer fans was split in half.
England’s Lionesses will take on Sweden at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on Tuesday evening.
Damion Potter, 47 years old, stated that he would be the “lone person in the England shirt” as he prepares to watch the game while on holiday visiting his wife Susanna’s extended family in Jonkoping, Sweden.
The former diplomat spoke to the PA news agency: “We still need to work out a bet between my wife and myself but so far we’re thinking someone has to jump in the river for whichever team loses.
“I will be cheering for England and hoping the Lionesses go all the way.
“Everybody else, except for me and possibly my kids depending on the result, will be cheering for Sweden so I shall be the lone person in the England shirt.
“May the best team win.”
Despite the couple’s competitiveness, the pressure is off their three children Elliot, 18, Zackary, 17, and 14-year-old Maya.
Spain’s Athenea del Castillo and England’s Leah Williamson (right) battle for the ball during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 quarter final (Gareth Fuller/PA)PA Wire/PA Image – Gareth Fuller
Mr Potter stated: “When England played Sweden in the men’s World Cup in 2016, it was funny watching our three kids initially cheering for Sweden and by the end of it all three of them were cheering for England.
“The good news for my kids is that whoever wins in the semi final, they’re going to have a team in the final.”
For the Potter family, football has always created memorable events – even with the family rivalry.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter were married 21 years ago. On the day of their marriage, England beat Sweden.
Mr Potter described the one-all draw as a “draw” and said that it was a “successful game.” “good diplomatic result”.
My kids have the good news that whoever wins tomorrow night’s semi final will be able to send a team to the final.
Damion Potter
Despite being a sports fan since the age of 10, it was after the birth of his first child that Mr Potter watched his first women’s World Cup.
He stated: “My eldest son was born at the end of September 2003, two weeks before the World Cup and wasn’t sleeping at night so I did the night shift and ended up watching almost every game.
“The player who won the golden boot that year was Sweden’s Victoria Svensson and she did the maintenance job in the British embassy in Stockholm where I also worked.
“After that, I was hooked on women’s and men’s football, especially for the big tournaments.”
Sweden’s Victoria Svensson (front) during the UEFA Women’s European Championship in 2009 (Niall Carson/PA)PA Archive/PA Images Niall Carson
Potter said that he hoped the “momentum and excitement” around the women’s games will continue in the future.
“It’s no longer like when I was at school, where there weren’t many women or girls who would play football,”He said.
“It’s important for me as a father with teenage boys and a 14-year-old daughter that she’s able to play football at school.
“I mean, there’s still a long way to go but I’m really pleased that in the UK we’re seeing this year’s Euros on primetime television, the back pages are showing the lionesses doing well, and the stadiums are full around the UK.
“I think it helps that we’re hosts but I hope that that carries on just like it has with all this momentum and excitement.”