Bullish England fans sang Sweet Caroline in boozy scenes ahead of the Three Lions’ clash with Serbia at the Euros tonight.
Gareth Southgate’s men kick off their tournament in Gelsenkirchen at 8pm hoping to go one better three years ago when they lost on penalties in the final against Italy at Wembley.
Ahead of their opening Group C game fans were in confident mood as they descended on the western Germany to down steins of lager in the hopes England can live up to their tag as favourites to pick up the first time.
Some 40,000 are expected to be in the city and some could be heard belting out the Neil Diamond classic that has become the unofficial anthem of the England football team.
One fan wearing a St George’s Afro wig sat outside a pub and declared: ‘It’s coming home, sir.’
Bullish England fans sang Sweet Caroline in boozy scenes ahead of the Three Lions’ clash with Serbia at the Euros tonight
These two fans have been in Gelsenkirchen for the last two days and said they got on a plane to Germany because ‘they know’ England are going to win the tournament
One fan wearing a St George’s Afro wigs sat outside a pub and declared: ‘It’s coming home, sir.’
While two other Englishmen told how they had been in the city for the last two days. Asked by the BBC if they thought England could win the tournament they screamed: ‘Definitely. When you know, you know. And that’s why we got on the plane, because we know it is going to happen.’
Southgate urged England supporters to enjoy their time in Germany despite local police labelling Sunday’s opener against Serbia ‘high-risk’ following reports earlier in the week of Serbian ultras making their way to the region.
Charity fundraiser Russ Cook, known as Hardest Geezer, is also expected to be in attendance after a 352-mile run which began at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
The endurance athlete made headlines after running the length of Africa for charity, finishing his trek of more than 10,000 miles in April after 352 days.
The Prince of Wales will join fans travelling to Frankfurt Arena on June 20 – the day before his 42nd birthday – to watch Gareth Southgate’s side clash with Denmark in their second game.
Stay-at-home fans will down an estimated 30 million pints in pubs and in their houses, with an audience of around 17 million expected to settle down and watch the game on BBC One.
England’s 35,000 pubs are braced for Super Sunday, with more than 14 million pints expected to be sold. Another 16 million will be quaffed at home, say analysts.
There has also been a supermarket rush on beer, pizzas, burgers, St George’s flags and even TVs. An estimated £150 million is expected to be spent on 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.
England fans pictured holding flags and chanting outside a pub in Gelsenkirchen
Three Lions packed out a pub in the German city ahead of their opening match against Serbia
Two England fans pictured with painted faces and pints at a pub in Gelsenkirchen yesterday
Gareth Southgate (pictured, speaking to the media in Gelsenkirchen yesterday) urged his England players to seize the moment when they begin their quest for Euro 2024 football glory
Southgate pictured with captain Harry Kane. As 40,000 fans in red and white descended on Germany, where tournament favourites England take on Serbia today, expectations both in the host nation and at home were reaching fever pitch
Captain Kane posing with an England flag ahead of tonight’s opener against Serbia
A group of England supporters pictured together outside a bar yesterday afternoon
England fans hold pints in Gelsenkirchen. The Three Lions kick off Euro 2024 tonight
Supporters waved England flags with personalised messages and club badges
In nearby Dusseldorf, friends Astrid Wett and Leah Ray, both social media influencers from London, draped themselves in the flag of St George in the city’s Old Town – then posed with Serbia fan Paule Radovanac, 18.
Ms Wett, 23, said: ‘It’s always good fun following England home and away.’ Ms Ray said her favourite player was Declan Rice, adding that she was ‘enjoying the great atmosphere out here’.
England trained at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld here in Jena and spirits were high during a session that included Luke Shaw for the first time after his hamstring lay-off.
But Southgate’s future was the hot topic after he told German publication Bild: ‘If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here anymore.’
The 53-year-old’s contract expires in December and the expectation is that this will be his last major finals.
Not that Anthony Gordon and others want that to be the case, as the Newcastle winger declared: ‘From a selfish point of view, I would want him to stay. I love working with him and his staff.
‘From my youth journey with England, the way they have transitioned the whole set-up from youth to senior level has been absolutely amazing, and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves.’
Southgate is mulling over his team selection for the opening game against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
Gordon, having recovered from an ankle issue, is one of those vying for inclusion after he started Friday’s 1-0 defeat by Iceland at Wembley.
And the 23-year-old said: ‘I’m ready, more than ready. I’d love to start, but I’ll be ready no matter what. Whatever I’m asked to do, I’ll be ready.
‘I thought I did all right (on Friday). I hadn’t touched the ball for four weeks, so I felt a bit rusty, especially around the final third. I made a couple of mistakes I wouldn’t normally do, but it is better doing it then than in a tournament.’
Southgate will pick two wide men from Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jarrod Bowen, Cole Palmer and Eberechi Eze.
Gordon added: ‘A few people have said the squad has never been so competitive in terms of everyone is in form and everyone has come here in a really good place. There is definitely competition for places. Everyone is going to be at their best to try to play.’
Southgate said of his young side: ‘There is opportunity for people to make a name for themselves. This is a moment in time for them.’
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