England v Serbia: Tens of thousands of fans pack Gelsenkirchen stadium with millions watching from home as Gareth Southgate's men prepare to get their Euro 2024 campaign underway - after crowd trouble and travel chaos marred build-up
Serbia vs England - Euro 2024: Live score, team news and updates
Excitement for England's opening Euro 2024 clash with Serbia has reached fever pitch, with tens of thousands of fans packing out the stadium in Germany and millions more watching from home.
Gareth Southgate's men kick off their tournament in Gelsenkirchen at 8pm, with England's stars supported by their WAGs as they try to go one better than three years ago when they lost on penalties against Italy in the final at Wembley.
The Euro 2020 final was marred by ugly scenes as ticketless fans forced their way into Wembley - and the scourge of football hooliganism made a shameful return this afternoon as England and Serbian fans clashed on the streets in Germany.
Despite violence and travel delays causing chaos this afternoon, tens of thousands of excited fans have made it to the Veltins-Arena, while millions of Brits have packed out bars and fan zones at home as the nation holds its breath.
More than 30,000 England fans - only 20,000 of whom are believed to have tickets - are in Gelsenkirchen for a clash which has been designated as 'high risk' due to the reputation of the two fanbases.
Only low-alcohol beer is being served in the Gelsenkirchen stadium in an attempt to reduce the potential for problems.
England fans cheer with a cardboard cutout of Gareth Southgate ahead of the Three Lions' Euros opener
England supporters dressed head to toe in England gear flocked to pubs ahead of kick off
Jordan Pickford's wife smiles and waves from the crowd, wearing her husband's number 1
England fans in a fan park near the ground ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen
An England fans waves a St George's flag in front of German riot police ahead of kick-off
An English fan is seen on the ground after being attacked by rivals ahead of the game between Serbia and England
Jude Bellingham greets the fans ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C football match between Serbia and England
Southgate has encouraged supporters to enjoy their time in Germany and Three Lions fans have been roaring in the build-up, with many dressed head to toe in England colours as supporters flocked to bars for German steins.
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Scourge of football hooliganism makes return to the Euros as English punters clash with Serbians
Some England fans have been heard 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.
Tens of thousands of Brits started drinking early in the glorious sunshine in Germany before the heavens opened hours before kick off.
Excited fans were spotted downing booze as the atmosphere for England's opener ramped up.
At home, England fans have flocked to boozers - despite the awkward timing of the game, with many in work on Monday morning.
Men, women and children have been spotted draped in St George's flags as they support Southgate's squad on their quest to end 58 years of hurt.
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.
Megan Pickford, wife of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, looks on prior to the game
England fans in the stands ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C match at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen
ans gather in front of Arena AufSchalke (Veltins-Arena) ahead of EURO 2024 Group C football match between Serbia and England in Gelsenkirchen
Riot police escort Serbia fans at Hauptbahnhof main railway station prior to the Group C England v Serbia match. There has been delays on public transport
England fans were on the beers early ahead of the highly-anticipated Euros opener
Fans have dressed up for England's first game of the Euros
Serbia fans are seen ahead of their opening Euros clash with England
An England fan tucks into some food at the Fan Zone in Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Fans wearing St George's face paint pack out the fan zone ahead of the clash tonight
Two young England fans drape themselves in flags
Excitement has reached fever pitch in Germany and at home
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.
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 have been braced for 'Super Sunday', with more than 14million pints expected to be sold - and another 16million tucked into at home.
An estimated 40,000 England supporters are believed to have descended this weekend on Gelsenkirchen and neighbouring cities such as Dusseldorf and Cologne.
But many faced issues reaching the stadium after a broken down train caused public transport delays.
At home, fans have also packed out pubs and bars, including this female supporter at Boxpark Croydon
Football fans gather to watch England's Euro 2024 opening Group C match against Serbia on a big screen at BOXPARK Croydon
Pubs are set to rake in millions as British punters take to bars across the UK
England fans gather in the Fan Zone at Devonshire Green in Sheffield City Centre
A Three Lion fan shows off his England crest tattoo on his back
England fans pose for a photo on the outside of the stadium
Fans faced travel chaos on the way to the stadium this evening
An England fan wearing St George's face paint
England fans chant and sing as the atmosphere builds
Some 20,000 England fans have tickets to the crucial Euro opener
Frustrated fans reported waiting more than half an hour for a train, while sports writer Oliver Kay described the situation as a 'total mess'.
He wrote on social media: 'For any England or Serbia fans who are still in the middle of Gelsenkirchen (or worse still not there yet), I’d recommend you set off on foot if you can. It’s about three miles but the public transport situation is a total mess.'
German police have been working with authorities from London and Belgrade to try to avoid ugly scenes in the areas around the stadium and during the game itself.
Earlier this afternoon, England and Serbian football fans clashed in ugly scenes in Gelsenkirchen.
Shocking pictures showed supporters covered in blood after violence broke out ahead of kick off.
German riot police quickly descended on the scene this afternoon, with police sources telling MailOnline at least six people have been arrested.
There was speculation over which supporters were involved in the vicious brawls, with reports initially suggesting the violence was sparked by Serbia's arch-rivals Albania attacking Serbs.
However, Gelsenkirchen police have now said it was English and Serbian fans who were involved in the fighting.
'It was an altercation between English and Serbian fans, who were separated by the police,' a spokesman said. 'Further measures are underway and the background is currently being clarified.'
Officers moved in after trouble erupted between fans outside a restaurant-bar just after 3.30pm. Video shows a group of thugs - some hooded and masked - launching bottles, chairs and tables - while some supporters were seen fleeing the area for safety as tension boiled over.
German police officers grapple with a fan after violence broke out ahead of a match between the Three Lions and Serbia
Two officers grapple with a fan after chasing attackers through the streets of Gelsenkirchen
An English fan is seen with blood pouring from his head after being caught up in clashes today
One group of fans was seen throwing chairs at another, although it is unclear who started the violence
A football fan is seen covered in blood following an altercation between Albania and Serbia fans on Sunday
One English fan is believed to have suffered a head wound in the fracas, with one other injured.
Earlier, the UK's dedicated Football Policing Unit released a statement saying a 'number of arrests' have been made, but it is believed those detained are Serbian.
A spokesperson for the UK's Football Policing Unit said: 'We are aware of an issue in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the England v Serbia match.
'Our German colleagues have made a number of arrests of what we currently believe to be Serbian supporters.
'At this stage we do not believe that any UK nationals have been arrested but enquiries are ongoing.
'Our officers are at the location speaking to German colleagues.
'Our investigation team is now reviewing footage of the incident and if any UK nationals have been involved, football banning orders will be sought.'