The Euro 2016 has reached its climax with football fans all over the world eagerly awaiting Sunday’s title clash between Portugal and hosts France.

Except for the supporters of 24 teams that took part in European Championship, rest of the fans all over the world had their favourite nation to cling on to. Two such Nepali fans—Nawaraj Kandel and Om Karesh Nakarmi—would be a bit disappointed that their favourite team Germany could not pass the semi-final hurdle against France on Thursday. The top favourites Germans crashed out after a 2-0 loss against the hosts.

Kandel and Nakarmi, however, were some of a very few Nepali fans to have actually travelled all the way to France to watch the Euro 2016 match live from the stadium. The two lucky fans were unable to watch their favourite team’s game but were lucky enough to watch Group ‘E’’ game between Italy and Sweden on June 17 at the Toulouse Stadium.

They are, understandably, indebted to carlsberg for allowing them the opportunity to experience a “lifetime opportunity.” Kandel and Nakarmi were two of the 10 carlsberg trade partners to earn the chance to watch a Euro 2016 match live. Ten lucky trade partners were picked up as winners of the Live it Live Carlsberg campaign through a lucky draw. The campaign was run from March to April.

“I can’t express my feeling in words after watching a Euro game from a stadium,” said Kandel. “The jam-packed stadium full of noise was just electrifying. I have never experienced anything like that in my whole life. It was more like a festival than any contest,” recalls Kandel, the owner of Amrit Stores in Thamel. “Also not many people will have the opportunity to hand over the man-of-the-match award in such an event,” said Kandel, who along with Nakarmi jointly handed over Carlsberg man-of-the-match award to Italian striker Eder.

Nakarmi, who also owns a shop in Thamel, said it was once in a lifetime experience. “It was just mind-blowing experience: watching live match from a stadium, giving away the man-of-the-match award and the hospitality in the VIP Carlsberg Lounge.” In the all-paid trip to France, eight other Carlsberg Live it Live campaign winners also watched Group ‘F’ match between Iceland and Austria at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on June 22.