Three Lions fans have been roaring in the hours ahead of England’s Euro 2024 kick-off tonight against Serbia in Germany.
New video footage shows Three Lions fans chanting a Second World War-related song, ‘Ten German bombers’, despite pleas against doing so by police and the FA.
Yet many more fans have been good-humoured as they raised pints with fellow fans and German hosts, as well as those following this evening’s Serbian opponents.
There have been united calls for peace amid fears that hooligan clashes could overshadow the match – as Serbian thugs appeared to display online St George’s cross flags ‘stolen’ from English travelling groups.
An estimated 40,000 England supporters are believed to have descended this weekend on Gelsenkirchen and neighbouring cities such as Dusseldorf and Cologne.
German police had issued a warning to England fans against singing war-related taunts, telling them: ‘Don’t be a d***!’
Tonight’s game marks a return to Gelsenkirchen 18 years after Wayne Rooney saw red there as England crashed out of the World Cup yet again on penalties.
The Three Lions, managed by Sven-Goran Eriksson and captained by David Beckham, lost their World Cup quarter-final shoot-out to Portugal in June 2006.
Star striker Wayne Rooney was sent off for a stamp on opposing centre-back Ricardo Carvalho, with the England man’s then-Manchester United clubmate Cristiano Ronaldo caught on camera winking after leading protests for a red card.
But optimism was the mood for many this weekend despite on ongoing wait for a first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup – following defeats in the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup, the final at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.
Crowds in Gelsenkirchen have been chanting a new song serenading one of the side’s stars – to the tune of US rock star Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark.
Supporters have been filmed performing the tribute to Manchester City playmaker Phil Foden who was last month voted England’s Footballer Of The Year.
The new song delivered in Euro 2024 host nation Germany, where England take on Serbia in Gelsenkirchen this evening, begins: ‘Can’t start a fire, can’t start a fire without a spark.’
Fans go on to declare: ‘Phil Foden’s on fire – he’ll be playing the Germans off the park.’
It follows fan anthems to the tune of hits by the likes of Atomic Kitten and Billy Ray Cyrus, as well as England supporters adopting Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline.
England manager Gareth Southgate has encouraged supporters to enjoy their time in Germany.
Yet local police have labelled tonight’s game ‘high risk’ following reports earlier last week of Serbian ultras making their way to the region.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed the Prince of Wales – president of the Football Associations – will join fans travelling to Frankfurt Arena on Thursday.
That evening England will take on Denmark, who they beat in the Euro 2024 semi-finals and who feature Premier League players including Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Stay-at-home fans will down an estimated 30million pints in pubs and in their homes for tonight’s opening confrontation with Serbia – with an audience of about 17million expected to tune in the BBC One’s coverage.
England’s 35,000 pubs are braced for ‘Super Sunday’, with more than 14million pints expected to be sold – and another 16million tucked into at home.
There has also been a supermarket rush on beer, pizzas, burgers, St George’s flags and even TVs – with analysts suggesting as much as £150million could be spent on Euros-fuelled food and drink.
About 10,000 England fans have tickets for tonight’s match at the Arena AufSchalke, but another 30,000 are expected in the former mining city.
There have been concerns 500 Serb hooligans from hooligan firms called Headhunters and Gravediggers are plotting to ambush Three Lions supporters.
The ‘stolen’ flag photos were shared by accounts including one called Hooligans.cz Official – though have faced criticism and mockery in response.
One poster replied by saying: ‘Imagine finding a flag, taking it and then posing with it upside down.’
Yet a Serbian supporter approved, writing: ‘We are going to lose on the pitch but off the pitch we are winning.’
Other Serbian fans who are out in Germany have played down any trouble risks and told how they come in peace, saying: ‘We’re here for the football just like you.’
Nikola Markovic, 38, who flew in to Germany last night, told : ‘Serbian people are not violent like the German police have said and how it’s been reported in the media.
‘The game against England is a very high risk match according to the police here but I don’t see why.
‘The ultras don’t follow the national team – they’ve never done. They would rather fight each other than the English, club teams in Serbia hate their local rivals.
‘We’ve come here for the football just like you. We want to enjoy watching our country in a big tournament like everyone else.
‘It’s a shame we can’t watch the match with England fans because we’re being kept apart in different fan zones. It’s an over-reaction, I believe.
‘I hope it’s a good game. I think it’ll be a 1-1 draw tonight.’
Miroslav Romandic, who was wearing a Serbian shirt, said: ‘I don’t think there will be any trouble between Serbians and the English.
‘We have been mixing with the English and drinking beer with them and it has all been very friendly.’
England supporter Alan Tallis, 65, originally from York but who has been living in Germany for the last 45 years, is going to the game with German wife Christa.
He said: ‘There’s been a buzz of excitement in Germany about the tournament, the Germans are very confident in their team.
‘The authorities over here have been worrying about the threat of violence at this game given the history of both sets of supporters.
‘There were a load of Serbian fans at my hotel this morning having breakfast. They looked like ultras, big lads and all dressed in black. But I had a chat with them and they were friendly enough.
‘Whether they still remain friendly a bit later remains to be seen…they didn’t look as though they’ve come here for a round of golf.
‘I wouldn’t mess with them but to be honest they may look more fearsome than they actually are.
‘Hopefully there’s no provocation from any England fans and vice versa. It should just be all about the football.’