England’s high hopes for Euros glory! Bullish Three Lions fans sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ in boozy scenes ahead of clash with Serbia TODAY – with 40,000 Brits set to descend on Gelsenkirchen
Bullish English fans sang Sweet Caroline in drunken scenes ahead of the Three Lions’ clash with Serbia at the European Championships tonight.
Gareth Southgate‘s men start their tournament in Gelsenkirchen at 8 p.m. hoping to go one better three years ago when they lost on penalties in the final against Italy at Wembley.
Ahead of the opening Group C game, fans were in a confident mood as they descended on the Western Germany to drink lager in the hope that England can live up to their title as favorites to pick up first.
Up to 40,000 people are expected in the city and some could be heard singing Neil Diamond’s classic, which has become the unofficial anthem of the England football team.
A fan wearing a St. George’s Afro wig sat outside a pub and said: “It’s coming home, sir.”
Bullish England fans sang Sweet Caroline in drunken scenes ahead of the Three Lions’ clash with Serbia at the European Championships tonight
These two fans have been in Gelsenkirchen for the past two days and said they got on a plane to Germany because ‘they know’ England will win the tournament
A fan wearing a St George’s Afro wig sat outside a pub and said: “It’s coming home, sir.”
While two other Englishmen told how they had been in the city the past two days. Asked by the BBC if they thought England could win the tournament they would shout: ‘Absolutely. When you know, you know. And that’s why we got on the plane, because we know it’s going to happen.”
Southgate urged England supporters to enjoy their time in Germany despite local police labeling Sunday’s opener against Serbia as ‘high risk’ following reports earlier this week that Serbian ultras were making their way to the region found.
Charity fundraiser Russ Cook, known as Hardest Geezer, is also expected to attend after a 352-mile run that started at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
The endurance athlete made headlines after running across Africa for charity, completing his 10,000-mile trek in April after 352 days.
The Prince of Wales will travel to the Frankfurt Arena with fans on June 20 (the day before his 42nd birthday) to watch Gareth Southgate’s side play Denmark in their second match.
Fans staying at home will drink an estimated 30 million pints in pubs and in their homes, with an audience of around 17 million expected to settle in and watch the match. BBC A.
England’s 35,000 pubs are gearing up for Super Sunday, with more than 14 million pints expected to be sold. Another 16 million will be consumed domestically, analysts say.
There has also been a rush in the supermarkets for 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 English fans have tickets for tonight’s match at the Arena AufSchalke, but another 30,000 are expected in the former mining town.
England fans pictured holding flags and singing outside a pub in Gelsenkirchen
Three Lions packed a cafe in the German city ahead of their opening match against Serbia
Two England fans pictured with painted faces and pints in a pub in Gelsenkirchen yesterday
Gareth Southgate (pictured, speaking to media in Gelsenkirchen yesterday) urged his England players to seize the moment as they begin their quest for football glory in Euro 2024
Southgate pictured with captain Harry Kane. As 40,000 fans in red and white descended on Germany, where tournament favorites England take on Serbia today, expectations reached fever pitch both in the host country and at home.
Captain Kane poses with an England flag ahead of tonight’s opener against Serbia
A group of England supporters pictured together outside a bar yesterday afternoon
English fans hold pints in Gelsenkirchen. Tonight the Three Lions kick off the European Championship 2024
Supporters waved English flags with personalized messages and club badges
Friends Astrid Wett and Leah Ray, both social media influencers, live in nearby Düsseldorf Londonwrapped themselves in the flag of St. George in the city’s Old Town – and then posed with Serbian fan Paule Radovanac, 18.
Mrs Wett, 23, said: ‘It’s always fun following England home and away.’ Ms. Ray said her favorite player was that Declan Riceadding that she “enjoyed the great atmosphere here.”
England trained at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld here in Jena and spirits were high during a session there Luke Shaw for the first time after his hamstring release.
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 it is expected that these will be his last major finals.
Not that Anthony Gordon and others want that, as the Newcastle winger stated: ‘From a selfish point of view I would like him to stay. I enjoy working with him and his employees.
“From my youth journey with England, the way they have transitioned the whole setup from youth to senior level is absolutely amazing, and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves.”
South Gate is thinking about his team selection for the opening match against Serbia on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen.
Gordon, who has recovered from an ankle problem, is among those vying to be included after starting Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley.
And the 23-year-old said: ‘I’m ready, more than ready. I’d love to get started, but I’ll be ready no matter what. Whatever is asked of me, I will be ready.
“I thought I did well (on Friday). I hadn’t touched the ball in four weeks so I felt a bit rusty, especially around the final third. I made a few mistakes that I normally wouldn’t make, but that’s better than in a tournament.’
Southgate will choose two wide men: Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jarrod Bowen, Cole Palmer and Eberechi Eze.
Gordon added: “A few people have said that the squad has never been more competitive in terms of everyone being in form and that everyone has come into a really good place here. There is certainly competition for places. Everyone will be at their best trying to play.”
Speaking about his young side, Southgate said: “There is an opportunity for people to make a name for themselves. This is a moment for them.”
