Boozy England fans drink in the Euro 2024 atmosphere ahead of first game vs Serbia
England fans have got their Euro 2024 party started ahead the Three Lions' opening game against Serbia.
Gareth Southgate's side begin their journey in Gelsenkirchen, with Sunday's match kicking off at 8pm. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and co have their eyes on lifting the famous Henri Delaunay Cup come July 14, especially after England agonisingly lost to Italy on penalties in the last European Championship final.
The Three Lions were among the favourites then but now the bookies have them as top dogs, with Southgate tasked with maximising his squad's abundance of talent. While pubs are set to be packed back home, an estimated 40,000 England fans are expected to descend on Gelsenkirchen for their Euros curtain-raiser.
Supporters have been in various German cities preparing for the game, as Saturday saw groups spotted in places like Essen, Dusseldorf and Cologne. Steins were being guzzled and chants belted out, including the divisive '10 German bombers'.
German police are anticipating as many as 300,000 fans from both England and Scotland over the month-long tournament. Southgate believes that supporters of the Three Lions will stay out of trouble, saying in his pre-match press conference: "I expect everybody to enjoy the football.
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"I've been fortunate to be involved in a lot of tournaments and travelled to others that I wasn't directly involved [in]. They are great carnivals of football, an opportunity to see another part of the world, meet people from other parts of the world, have a brilliant time. So everybody I'm sure is coming to do exactly that.
"The whole of Europe can come together, celebrate together the brilliant game we're involved in, support and get behind their team but of course meet other people and have a fantastic month together."
COLOGNE, GERMANY - JUNE 15: England fans react at the official UEFA Fan Zone during the UEFA EURO 2024 Group A match between Hungary and Switzerland at the Fan Zone on June 15, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Teresa Kröger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
UEFA have, however, dubbed the England-Serbia game a 'high-risk fixture' amid fears of hooliganism. Only low-strength alcohol will be served at Schalke's Veltins Arena but FA chief executive Mark Bullingham insists that police are prepared and hopes that England supporters can continue their good recent track record.
"What I would say is, over the last few years our England fans have been absolutely brilliant support to us, particularly in the stadium. There are a lot of people going to come out here," Bullingham said.
"The best thing that the fans can do to help us do well in this tournament is be a tribute to their country. We want them to do that, reminding them that in 2006 we were the fans of the tournament. They were brilliant then.
"The actual protection of fans is a UEFA and a policing issue. If you look at our role and what we control, it is how you work together with them. And we've worked together with the police, the FSA, the police in both Germany and England over the last 18 months in a really collaborative project.
"From our point of view we have performed that role and we actually are really looking forward to the game. It will be a brilliant game between two strong footballing countries with great heritage so we are looking forward to it."
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