For only the second time, a general election campaign will coincide with a major football tournament. Tens of thousands of voters could be in Germany around polling day on 4 July – depending on the progress of England and Scotland at Euro 2024 (14 June-14 July). Can Rishi Sunak benefit from a football feel-good factor? Or could early exit for the home nations hasten his departure from No 10? (Photo: England Manager Southgate).

A myth has occasionally persisted that England’s 1966 World Cup victory kept Harold Wilson in Downing Street. But Labour’s election victory actually came four months before the Wembley final – in March 1966. The PM did, however, call the 1970 election in the middle of England’s World Cup defence in Mexico. Cabinet minister Denis Healey later claimed Wilson was wondering about the political consequences of an England defeat ahead of election day.

And West Germany did turn it around against the world champions in the quarterfinals – just as the Conservatives confounded the pollsters to sweep Edward Heath to power four days later. England’s early flight home came after blowing a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 – and sports minister Denis Howell later linked goalkeeping blunders with the moment everything “began to go wrong for Labour”. A PM did not call a national poll again during a tournament until the Brexit vote – with the UK voting to leave the European Union during Euro 2016.

England fans – never reticent to goad rivals – adopted a new jingoistic chant: “We’re not in Europe anymore.” The Three Lions fulfilled that far sooner on the pitch than the prolonged EU withdrawal – with a humiliating last-16 defeat to minnows Iceland. At the upcoming Euros in Germany, the 4 July election unexpectedly called by Rishi Sunak comes after the round of 16. Unwelcome news perhaps for Gareth Southgate, who for so long as England manager has been called on to unite the nation amid domestic political strife. (Photo: US Ambassador Hunt, left).

It was only in March that England were facing calls from both Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to restore the clear red St George’s cross to the shirt. But Sky News pointed out to Southgate only yesterday that it seemed Euro 2024 “would be about football, not politics this time”. Even the Euros may not now be an election-free zone. But will results on the pitch have any impact on politics?

Courtesy: By Rob Harris Sports correspondent @RobHarris