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British football fans began their own ‘ Brexit ’ on Thursday - as up to 200,000 Home Nations followers headed to France for their Euro 2016 knockout games.

Travel operators say the mass exodus of England, Wales and Northern Ireland supporters will be the biggest in sporting history.

UK ports, airports and train stations will be bulging as fans head across the Channel to watch their countries in action.

The three Home Nations are joined in the last 16 by the Republic of Ireland - adding to the excitement in the UK.

Bumper viewing figures are expected for the games - which kick-off when most Brits are off work.

(Image: PA)

The unprecedented three-day footballing bonanza starts on Saturday evening, when Wales take on Northern Ireland.

Chris Coleman’s Welsh side were the surprise winners of Group B, finishing ahead of England.

The Republic of Ireland, who had a last-gasp win against Italy, play favourites France in Lyon on Sunday afternoon.

And finally Roy Hodgson’s England face minnows Iceland in Nice on Monday night.

The Three Lions game will be screened by ITV, while the BBC has the two other matches.

(Image: REUTERS)

England’s draw against Slovakia was watched by almost 14 million viewers - the year’s biggest TV audience.

Some hotels in Paris and Nice have quadrupled their prices after the Home Nations were drawn to play in the cities.

And many flights to France from British and Irish airports have doubled in price as fans book up seats. Touts are charging up to £1,200 for tickets for games involving England, Wales and Northern Ireland.Bookies Ladbrokes have slashed the odds on one of the Home Nations or the Republic of Ireland winning Euro 2016 to 6/1.

They are forecast to take a bumper £200m in bets across the weekend from buoyant fans.

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Spokesman Alex Donohue said: “Home Nations and Ireland fans are heading to France pumped up for a record-breaking weekend of football.

“Confidence in all of the sides couldn’t be any higher and the masses crossing the Channel believe one of their teams will go all the way.”

Hodgson’s squad returned to the training ground in Chantilly on Thursday after a two-day break. The sweltering 32C temperatures were the perfect preparation for the warm conditions expected in Nice.

Spurs striker Harry Kane bagged a hat-trick in just three minutes during a five-a-side game.

Despite the public excitement about the Home Nations’ progress, Wayne Rooney said the England squad could not care less.

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The England skipper, who will equal David Beckham's 115-cap record on Monday night, said: “For us, we’re just happy England are through.

“Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are competitors to us, so we’re not bothered if they’re through or not.”

Rooney admitted the team need to be more “ruthless” against Iceland on Monday night.

“They are a very good, organised team and difficult to break down. We know it’s going to be a tough game for us,” he said. It’s important that we play to a high tempo, make them work and hopefully tire them out and then take the chances when they come.

“For them, obviously it’s a great story and they have done well so far. But we have to be ruthless and punish them when we have the chance.”

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Iceland’s squad includes a part-time film director and a village dentist.

Goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson quit football as a youngster to launch a career making movies.

Most recently he produced the video for Iceland’s entry in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest.

After having a change of heart and deciding to pick up his gloves again, his employers offered him “indefinite leave”.

Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson is his village’s dentist and is using his annual holiday to be in France.

Three Lions boss Hodgson was left confused about who the Three Lions would face as he watched the final Group F games on Wednesday night.

(Image: Charles McQuillan)

He said: “It was changing all the time. Ray (Lewington) and I were watching the game in the hotel between Portugal and Hungary.

“We were making notes on both teams, perhaps more on Hungary. Gary Neville was watching the Austria v Iceland in Paris, so we were covering all the bases.

“At one stage it looked like the only scenario that could have actually got Portugal into second place was actually going to come to pass.

“But it didn’t, so we find ourselves playing Iceland. That was probably more in line with our thinkings how it would pan out.”