Im Ben Brown with our other main stories. The Uks Vaccine Minister says the government is confident that plans to lift a range of Covid Restrictions will go ahead Onjuly 19 in england. But he also said masks are still expected to be worn indoors. The fortification of the Vaccination Programme has allowed us to cautiously move to step four and the pm will say more about this. Sir Richard Branson prepares to venture to the Edge Of Space, on the first Passenger Flight of his Virgin Galactic spaceship. Its a day full of anticipation for england and italy fans, ahead of the final of Euro 2020. More than 60 Thousand are expected at Wembley Stadium in london where the two countries face each other tonight. Its a historic game for italy it could be the first time they become European Champions in decades. For england a win would be their first ever Euros Title and a first major Tournament Victory in 55 years. Gareth southgate� s squad arrived at their hotel in waford after their final training session. The team have received good luck messages from the queen and the Prime Minister, ahead of what is the biggest game for england since the World Cup Final of 1966. Our Sports Correspondent 0lly Foster is at wembley. There is a real atmosphere there are already hours before Kick Off. We already hours before kickoff. We are not already hours before Kick Off. Are not expecting the teams to arrive for another four and a half hours, but wembley behind me is a sight to behold, full of thousands of england fans. You can hear the roar coming up from Ground Level behind me because they are aware just how special this day could be. They have been the nearly men, but along the way over the last four weeks at this tournament, their history, the weight of previous major tournaments has just dropped from their shoulders, the curse of semifinals, they lifted thatjust a few nights ago, beating denmark in extra time, but italy of course will arrive here as well full of confidence, they got past the spaniards on penalties on tuesday night. They have not lost a game in over three years under Roberto Mancini. This is perhaps the final that everyone wanted, england, on home soil, will have huge Home Advantage and perhaps this is the year that they can finally emulate Sir Alf ramseys heroes of 1966. Here is our sports correspondence. Come on, england it is footballs christmas eve. Some fans are already at wembley, like Kids Impatient to unwrap their biggest present, but who can blame them . 55 years is a long time to wait. We need it this year, after the time weve had, we need some of this, we need excitement, to be behind our country. Southgate hasjust managed to find something that has brought togetherness, and theyjust seem as if they can do it this time. 55 years, not in my lifetime have i seen anything like this. This was our moment to represent our time. The near misses and the tournaments that havent gone so well werent so important for this team. Over the last four years, theyve knocked down so many barriers, so their Resilience And Experience as a team have really prepared them well for this moment. This team has taken the public along for the ride. When they left their base in Staffordshire Yesterday and when they arrived in london, the players were reminded just what this means to the nation. But lets not forget about italy, a team unbeaten in three years. They were pushed very close in their semifinal by spain but went through on penalties. England have never beaten them in a major tournament. The players have been a picture of calm, holed up inside their Team Hotel this morning. I wouldnt be surprised if many of them will be off social media. They will be limiting and staying away from that so they dont get too hyped up about the whole situation. Its that balance of being focused but also being relaxed. Fans hope the team can keep their head while all around them are losing theirs. There really is No Other story in town today, and the players have had messages from the queen, the Prime Minister, a Facetime Call from Tom Cruise and the duke of cambridge. I cant really believe this is happening. So exciting. Just wish you the very best of luck. You bring out the very best of england, and the whole country is behind you, so bring it home. When the final whistle blows at wembley tonight, the waiting could be over. For too long, history has weighed them down. The golden generations expected to emulate what Sir Alf ramsay did in 1966. This class of 2021 under Gareth Southgate has never been closer to sporting immortality. That well known chant of football is Coming Home is rising up from Ground Level on Wembley Way. It could be Coming Home, it is certainly knocking on the door of wembley, but already inside isJohn Watson. It has been a long tournament, but for this england generation, this is uncharted territory. You have to go back 55 years for the last time an England Team went the distance at a major championship. Yes. England team went the distance at a major championship. Major championship. Yes, that is ri. Ht, major championship. Yes, that is right. Good major championship. Yes, that is right, good afternoon major championship. Yes, that is right, good afternoon from major championship. Yes, that isj right, good afternoon from Inside Wembley, here we are, The Day has finally arrived and as we know, a tournament like No Other, a year later than planned and it was delayed because of the pandemic, but one month after that Opening Match of the tournament, which has been staged in cities across the continent, that first match staged in rome, italy Beating Turkey in the Opening Match one month ago and here we are, italy in the final today, where of course they will take on england, hoping to emulate those achievements of the World Cup winning side back in 1966. All ice will fall on Wembley Stadium later as it hosts the final of this tournament once again, as it did backin tournament once again, as it did back in 1996 when germany, as we know, knocked out england in the Semi Finals and Gareth Southgates Penalty Miss contributing to that and they went on to beat the Czech Republic in the final. The golden goal sailing them the trophy that day. 33 years before that england here at wembley winning the 1966 World Cup, Sir Geoff hursts Hat Trick of course and then Sir Bobby Moore climbing the steps of the old Wembley Stadium, awarded the trophy by the queen that day and as we heard, she has been sending her best wishes to this England Team and messages from all over the world, Tom Cruise as well as we heard in the package there and it has been a nation unified and we saw those extraordinary pictures yesterday. The fans who gathered on the roadside at St Georges Park to wish england well on their way to their hotel last night. We have seen hairdressers up and down the country getting creative with st georges flags, everyone has come together for this unique occasion and it is going to be a very special atmosphere, as you were saying, that Excitement And Anticipation building on Wembley Way beside you and it is going to be unique Inside Wembley later and we know that David Baddiel and frank skinner, who produce that track, that song that has been sung throughout the tournament, they had a request to sing that song here on the pitch before Kick Off turned down by uefa and they felt it would have been too partisan and unfair on italy and the few fans who will be here supporting italy later. That will not be happening. We know that the Red Arrows will be flying overhead around ten minutes before Kick Off to create that special occasion here for that very special final to come later. As we know, england seemingly have got all the big decisions right uncertainly Gareth Southgate has with regards to selection on and off the pitch throughout this tournament. The players have carried themselves so well throughout and they have used their platform, havent they . Not only their performances on the pitch but off it as well like Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford and we wait to see if this will be their crowning moment, the biggest match of their lives, 0lly, when things get under way here at eight oclock tonight. I get under way here at eight oclock toniaht. ~. ,. ,. , tonight. I think the gates open at about five oclock. Tonight. I think the gates open at about five oclock. Many tonight. I think the gates open at about five oclock. Many thanks, | about five oclock. Many thanks, John Watson inside Wembley Stadium and we will be back with him throughout the rest of the afternoon. John mentioning some of those players who have really excelled and stepped up, who have started every single game and one of thoseis started every single game and one of those is the goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford. I know all the players have been trying to get as many friends and family in for their matches here at wembley, just the one away match in rome for their Quarterfinal Victory against ukraine. Alan fisher isJordan Pickford s former Pe Teacher at St Robert of Newminster Roman catholic school in washington. Hejoins me now. Good afternoon to you, alan. Immense pride, i am guessing from your perspective. Pride, i am guessing from your perspective pride, i am guessing from your perspective. Definitely. We know jordan well perspective. Definitely. We know jordan well and perspective. Definitely. We know jordan well and his perspective. Definitely. We know jordan well and his family, perspective. Definitely. We know jordan well and his family, it perspective. Definitely. We know jordan well and his family, it hasj jordan well and his family, it has been a fantastic achievement what he has done so far. Especially for the pupils and staff and parents from The School. I pupils and staff and parents from The School pupils and staff and parents from The School. , ,. , ~. , The School. I remember speaking to jordan about The School. I remember speaking to jordan about four The School. I remember speaking to jordan about four or The School. I remember speaking to jordan about four or five The School. I remember speaking to jordan about four or five days The School. I remember speaking to jordan about four or five days ago. | jordan about four or five days ago. He had a tough old time with everton during the season, he lost his place, he had a niggling injury, but Gareth Southgate has never lost his belief in his Number One keeper. He has never let his country down. Ida. Has never let his country down. No, i think we see has never let his country down. No, i think we see a has never let his country down. Iifr, i think we see a new and mature jordan, his family has change, having the Little One and i think he has controlled himself very well and i hope it continues in the game tonight. And when you saw them go on that amazing run, not letting them a goal and obviouslyJordan Pickford goal and obviously Jordan Pickford was goal and obviouslyJordan Pickford was at the heart of that. Did you sense that this could be a little bit special for england . Yes there is Raheem Sterling bit special for england . Yes there is Raheem Sterling and bit special for england . Yes there is Raheem Sterling and Harry Bit special for england . Yes there | is Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane knocking them in but that defensive unit has been the platform, starting with jordan . Unit has been the platform, starting withjordan . It unit has been the platform, starting with jordan . With jordan . It has all been True Urit and with jordan . It has all been True Grit and games with jordan . It has all been True Grit and games they with jordan . It has all been True Grit and games they have with jordan . It has all been true J Grit and games they have played with jordan . It has all been True I Grit and games they have played so far, they have put their bodies on the line. We have gone back to how determined they are to keep the opposition out. It has been a phenomenal display and it has worked really well. I phenomenal display and it has worked reall well. , , really well. I sense the Scottish T In , really well. I sense the scottish trying. The really well. I sense the scottish trying, the second really well. I sense the scottish trying, the second group really well. I sense the scottish trying, the second Group Match really well. I sense the scottish trying, the second Group Match was when when for you, that was when england looked a little bit wobbly, unsure of themselves and that was the draw against the scots. H0. Unsure of themselves and that was the draw against the scots. The draw against the scots. No, it was a local the draw against the scots. No, it was a local derby the draw against the scots. No, it was a local derby and the draw against the scots. No, it was a local derby and i the draw against the scots. No, it was a local derby and i think the draw against the scots. No, it was a local derby and i think it. Was a local derby and i think it could have gone anyway and i think the scots got themselves up for the game. It went one way, 0 0 was the best Result for scotland in ways i wish we had continued later on. Jordan as a lad, i know he had a lot of family around him at The School where you are as well, was he one of those annoying kids he was just brilliant at everything . I those annoying kids he was ust brilliant at everything . � brilliant at everything . I think jordan had brilliant at everything . I think jordan had a brilliant at everything . I think jordan had a desire brilliant at everything . I think jordan had a desire to brilliant at everything . I think jordan had a desire to wind i brilliant at everything . I think| jordan had a desire to wind no matter what sport it was, he will give a mouthful if people were not pulling their weight, but in general he is a lovely lad and when he was at Saint Roberts he had to balance the Football Career with the academic side and hopefully we got it right. Ii academic side and hopefully we got it riuht. ,. , academic side and hopefully we got it riuht. ,. , academic side and hopefully we got itriuht. , , it right. If you are still his Pe Teacher. It right. If you are still his Pe Teacher, what it right. If you are still his Pe Teacher, what would it right. If you are still his Pe Teacher, what would you it right. If you are still his Pe Teacher, what would you say| it right. If you are still his pe i teacher, what would you say to it right. If you are still his Pe Teacher, what would you say to him before going out for a match of this magnitude . I before going out for a match of this magnitude . Before going out for a match of this maanitude . ~ ,. ,. ,. , magnitude . I think you have got the talent and i magnitude . I think you have got the talent and i think magnitude . I think you have got the talent and i think the magnitude . I think you have got the talent and i think the Talent Magnitude . I think you have got the talent and i think the talent will talent and i think the talent will come out at the end of The Day. It is a one off, a final, hopefully it will go the right direction and i think today will be a one Day England Supporterfor think today will be a one Day England Supporter for this occasion. That is good of you. Has he been in touch . How will all the connections from his Old School be watching this one . I from his Old School be watching this one . ~. , from his Old School be watching this one . ~ ,. , one . I think most people, with the Andemic One . I think most people, with the pandemic over one . I think most people, with the pandemic over 18 one . I think most people, with the pandemic over 18 months, one . I think most people, with the pandemic over 18 months, it one . I think most people, with the pandemic over 18 months, it will i one . I think most people, with the | pandemic over 18 months, it will be a lovely time to get back to a little bit of pleasure and looking at the game, watching the game. Family wise, they are all spread out, they will be watching it in different places, quite a lot of his family and friends have got young ones now. Some will be at home or down at the local pubs and bars. We are looking forward to a great Result. 50 are looking forward to a great Result. , are looking forward to a great Result,. , i are looking forward to a great Result. , ~. , are looking forward to a great Result. , ~. , ~ Result. So our way, alan. Thank you. Jordan pickford. Result. So our way, alan. Thank you. Jordan pickford, the Result. So our way, alan. Thank you. Jordan pickford, the england Result. So our way, alan. Thank you. J Jordan Pickford, the England Number one, the goalkeeper who will start tonight against italy. Many thanks forjoining us. There is of course a lot of anticipation in italy as well our Europe Correspondent Lucy williamson is in rome. Well, it is funny you know, when you ask people here if they think that italy is going to win, there are very, very few people will actually go Out On A Limb and say yes, they think it is italys game. I thought that was because they might be a little scared of the England Side this time, but i was put straight by a couple here, a short while ago, he told me that it is because they are superstitious here in italy. They secretly think, as you can see, the fans have turned up already, they secretly think that they are going to win, but they are not quite ready to say it. They dont want to jinx it. And also, you heard from Roberto Mancini there, he has also been emphasising that england are a strong side at the moment. He knows that there is pressure on the italian team, they did not qualify for the World Cup last time around and so he has been telling his players to reallyjust enjoy the match and have fun. The fans who are enjoying themselves so far on Wembley Way are exclusively england fans as far as i can say. Down there, below me, the flares are still going off, thousands upon thousands getting here so early, remember Kick Off not for another seven hours or so. Italy are actually down as the home team, but it will not fail like that at all. England will be wearing white, even though they will be in the away dressing room. This feels like a Home Tournament for england and Roberto Mancini roberto and she conceding it will give england an advantage. There is a huge italian population in london, just outside london in bedford and they will surely be making their voices heard a little bit lighter as we get closer to Kick Off and inside the stadium which will have close on 65,000, wembley operating at 70 per 35 65,000, wembley operating at 70 per 35 capacity for this final as it was for the Semi Finals. The English Fans already here, enjoying themselves and hoping to enjoy the match as well. For now, let us get back to the Studio And Ben brown. 0lly, thank you very much indeed. It is going to be an amazing day and an amazing night. The government says people will still be expected to wear masks in many indoor spaces and on Public Transport after Covid Restrictions in england are lifted. The Prime Minister is due to confirm tomorrow whether most of Englands Lockdown rules will end on the 19th Ofjuly including the legal requirement to wear masks. The Vaccines Minister, nadhim zahawi, says the government wants to stress the need for both a personal responsibility and a corporate responsibility as restrictions are eased. Heres our health correspondent, jim reed. It is one of the most visible signs of the pandemic. Injust over a week, the legal requirement to wear a mask in england is set to end. Speaking this morning, the Vaccines Minister said there would still be an expectation to mask up in some indoor spaces. The guidelines will be very clear on things like mask wearing. There is an expectation for people to wear masks indoors, in crowded places, on Public Transport. Rather than government by diktat, we say that we moved a step forward cautiously. In wales, scotland and Northern Ireland, the legal need to wear a mask in some indoor venues will remain for the moment. In england, Laboursaid Making The Requirement Voluntary in eight days would be a mistake. We think more could be done to make sure that public spaces are properly ventilated, and as we have said all the way through this crisis, people who need to go home to self isolate need, if they are on low incomes, to be financially supported to do that. It comes as infections continue to rise across much of the country. More people are mixing, and there are signs that football has led to a spike in cases among young men. In scotland, that trend is starting to reverse. Ministers have said the number of daily infections across the uk could hit 100,000 by august. Vaccines will keep the vast majority out of hospital, but some are warning there could still be real disruption to nhs services. They would be younger. Less severe, shorter stays. The actual numbers in hospital would still be well below the second wave peak, even if we did hit that 100,000 a day, but of course, its very disruptive, having covid cases, and there would of course be a lot of bad outcomes. I guess the judgment is that its better we do it now than in the winter. At a News Conference tomorrow, borisjohnson will confirm plans to lift most remaining restrictions in england. Its clear now that the message will be one of caution rather than celebration as ministers and scientists try to navigate out of this pandemic. Jim reed, bbc news. Pope francis has appeared in public for the first time since undergoing intestinal surgery a week ago. A crowd gathered outside romes Gemelli Hospital where the pope was being treated for his weekly prayer, and he stepped out onto a balcony and thanked Well Wishers for their support. The vatican says the Popes Recovery is on track, but added he is not yet well enough to return home. Sir Richard Branson is preparing to fly to the Edge Of Space today. The businessman and his Virgin Galactic crew will take off from New Mexico it was originally scheduled for 2pm Uk Time but has been delayed by an hour and a half because of the weather. It comes just nine days before another high Profile Entrepreneur the Amazon Founderjeff bezos is planning his own space launch. Tim allman has more. Billionaire entrepreneurs heading into space are a bit like buses, you wait ages and then two come along almost at once. First up, Sir Richard Branson and his unity rocket plane. Taking off from a Space Port in New Mexico, the Virgin Galactic crew should reach a height of 50 miles, or 80 kilometres, above the earths surface. According to nasa that is where the atmosphere ends, so Sir Richard will officially become an astronaut. I have always been a dreamer. My mum taught me to never give up and to reach for the stars. Thisjuly, our dream will become a reality. And were really excited to share that moment with you all. The Virgin Galactic programme stretches back nearly 20 years and has not always gone so smoothly. In 2014 a pilot was killed during a Test Flight over the mojave desert. This is only the beginning. Soon enoutheff bezos will take off in his Blue 0rigin rocket. Some critics say, this is simply the folly of rich men and question the logic of commercial space travel, when the skies are already full ofjunk, but for others, it is all about reaching for the stars. This is an attempt to regularise access to space. This is about getting economically achievable access to the industrialization of space. It is a really important flight. Virgin galactic plan to start commercial services in 2022. They say they could be running 100 flights a year, 12 months later. For Sir Richard Branson this is One Small Step fora billionaire, One Giant Leap for mankind. Tim allman, bbc news. 0ur Correspondent Sophie long is as at the Launch Site and sent this Update Iamat i am at the worlds first purpose built commercial spaceport and in a couple of hours, a lifelong dream could become a reality when Sir Richard Branson along with two pilots and two other crew members are due to fly to the Edge Of Space. The lunchtime has already been pushed back by an hour and a half of thatis pushed back by an hour and a half of that is due to weather conditions overnight but The Sun is now rising and we are being told that everything is looking good and in a couple of hours time we should see the Spaceship Unity Launcher from the Spaceship Unity Launcher from the two Mile Run my beside me along with ship beside me and after 45 minutes it should detach from the Mothership And Rocket to the Edge Of Space, 50 miles above the surface of the earth. This has been more than 16 years in the making, he has invested hundreds of billions of pounds in the project and for that hefty Price Tag you should experience just a few minutes of weightlessness and get a view of earth enjoyed by only a few hundred humans before him. If everything goes according to plan, he will come out on the tarmac behind me, a mere mortal billionaire, he will return to earth as an astronaut and then, i am told, he is going to the football. , am told, he is going to the Football Am told, he is going to the football. ,. , ,. , football. Let us hope he is not liuht the euros final is not the only major Sporting Event taking place in london today. It is also the wimbledon mens Singles Final. Novak djokovic aiming to win his sixth wimbledon title hes taking on the italian Matteo Berrettini, Playing In His First Grand Slam final. 0ur Correspondent Chetan pathak is at wimbledon. The thing for us. Is this a match that Novak Djokovic is expected to win . I that Novak Dokovic is expected to win . ~. , that Novak Dokovic is expected to win . ~. ,. ,. , win . I think that is fair to say. The sun is win . I think that is fair to say. The sun is shining, win . I think that is fair to say. The sun is shining, It Win . I think that is fair to say. The sun is shining, it is win . I think that is fair to say. I The Sun is shining, it is beautiful weather at wimbledon and we have not said that every day of these championships, it feels busy already on The Hill and people anticipating this final. The football is not forgotten about here, we have seen the italian manager Roberto Mancini tweeted his congratulations to Matteo Berrettini says today our hearts are notjust at Matteo Berrettini says today our hearts are not just at wembley, Matteo Berrettini says today our hearts are notjust at wembley, but at wimbledon as well, where berrettini is the first italian to be in the wimbledon final. It is a really big ask against Novak Djokovic, chasing all sorts of history at these championships and if he can win his sixth wimbledon title it would be his 20th grand Slam Title which brings him level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and it is all the more extraordinary because when djokovic won his first Australian Open title in 2008, Roger Federer was on a 12 and nadal was on four and he has always played catch up four and he has always played catch up on this to be the afternoon where he does finally draw level. For very teeny, it is his first Grand Slam final, it is already a great achievement, he has won its last 11 matches on grass including what he did at queens going in to this and how will he do with the nerves and pressure, withjust how will he do with the nerves and pressure, with just over half an hour away to the start of play . If you can get himself on the board early, win his first set, djokovic has only dropped one set up a Jumbo Jet so far but if Matteo Berrettini cant make a great first service, he has got a chance. Every expectation is that djokovic will won this and won at canterbury. 1th is that djokovic will won this and won at canterbury. Is that djokovic will won this and won at canterbury. As the Weather Aood for won at canterbury. As the weather good for the won at canterbury. As the weather good for the final . Won at canterbury. As the weather good for the final . It won at canterbury. As the weather good for the final . It is, won at canterbury. As the weather good for the final . It is, not won at canterbury. As the weather good for the final . It is, not a good for the final . It is, not a scorching good for the final . It is, not a scorching hot good for the final . It is, not a scorching hot day good for the final . It is, not a scorching hot day for good for the final . It is, not a scorching hot day for two good for the final . It is, not a i scorching hot day for two weeks, good for the final . It is, not a scorching hot day for two weeks, i have had my umbrella out a lot and i have had my umbrella out a lot and i have been sat here and the forecast is not great for later on today, but underneath the roof on Centre Court it will not matter too much and so much has been made of the conditions come out when you think about how the slippery surface was such a Talking Point in the opening days, we lost Serena Williams and on the Mend Side and on the womens side, things have felt different in terms of the big names we have lost along the way in these championships, the way the seeds fell in the womens draw and here we are on finals day, not talking about Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer or andy murray, there is a sense of the champion ships that things have changed and if you look at the semifinal Line Up and the way that we had newer names then we have seen before and even in this final, Matteo Berrettini mightjust fancy it. It does not look like the roof will have to be closed today and we will start as an open in that final and that suits both of these players on the way they play. It should be a fascinating final ahead, a big test for Matteo Berrettini. Gordon reid has lost his Singles Final in the Wheelchair Singles to the belgian and he will now head off to tokyo to defend his paralympic title. He has already won the doubles with alfie hewett. Four wimbledon titles he has in the mens doubles, 12 Grand Slams for that partnership. Doubles, 12 Grand Slams for that partnership doubles, 12 Grand Slams for that partnership. Enoy The Day. Thank ou ve partnership. Enoy The Day. Thank you very much partnership. Enjoy The Day. Thank you very much indeed partnership. Enjoy The Day. Thank you very much indeed for partnership. Enjoy The Day. Thankj you very much indeed for bringing partnership. Enjoy The Day. Thank i you very much indeed for bringing us up you very much indeed for bringing us up to date. Now its time for a look at the weather with Darren Bett The Sun is out at wimbledon, not out everywhere, there is some rain in the forecast for the rest of The Day, rain in spain are picture over the last few hours, heavy showers breaking out in northern areas, we also have that Rain Heading into the west of wales, the South West of england, much more cloud for wales and South West, a cooler day. Some of the Rain Heading towards Northern Ireland and pushing towards wimbledon later on in the afternoon. Ahead of it, some sunshine, temperatures into the low 20s and a few showers which could heavy across northern england and particularly in scotland with thunder in there as well. Likely to get some of the rain arriving for the football at wembley this evening and it gets wetter more widely across england and wales with some heavier bursts of rain overnight and it turns drier in Northern Ireland, the showers by the way and in scotland the temperatures fade away and worn out for england and wales with a cloudy start to Tomorrow And Rein in places. The rain moving slowly north, tending to break up, Skies May brighten up, but that might trigger heavy thundery dampers, notjust across scotland and then a thing about particularly in the South East of could be some localised flooding. A drier and warmer day particularly for Northern Ireland, wales and the South West, downpours notjust across scotland and a glint but particularly in the southis and a glint but particularly in the south is doubling the weather could be localised flooding. A drier and warmer day for Northern Ireland, wales and the South West. Hello this is bbc news. The headlines. Englands footballers prepare to take on italy in tonights final of Euro 2020 their biggest match in more than half a century. Their Resilience And Experience as a team really prepared them well for this moment. The italians have not had to wait 55 years for a major final but theres plenty of excitement there too, with fans gearing up for the big night