England fans gathered across Germany as manager Gareth Southgate’s team arrived in Gelsenkirchen, with UEFA giving Three Lions supporters 10,000 tickets for Sunday night’s 8pm clash with Serbia
The party atmosphere was in full swing on Saturday night as thousands of enthusiastic Three Lions fans prepared to cheer on their heroes.
They came from all over Germany when Gareth Southgate’s team arrived in Gelsenkirchen. UEFA offered 10,000 tickets to England fans for the match against Serbia at 8pm on Sunday night.
But police believe there will be twice that many at the Aufschalke Arena, with a further 30,000 watching on big screens around the city. Most live in nearby cities such as Essen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf and Duisburg. In Essen on Saturday, Andy Preston, 54, his son James, 25, and James’ friend Mark Harris, an engineer, all enjoyed the atmosphere.
Andy, from Preston, Lancashire, said: “I’m really looking forward to the match. It’s been great so far. We watched the Germany v Scotland game in the fanzone and the German fans were amazing.”
James added: “The Germans couldn’t believe we were rooting for them and not Scotland so we had to explain the rivalry.” He lives in the northern German city of Bremen and said locals were looking forward to the party atmosphere England fans would bring.
“They joke about how drunk the English get and think it’s ridiculous that stadiums have to sell low-alcohol beer for the Serbia game,” he said. Engineer Lee Hunt, 50, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and his son Tom, 23, arrived in the city on Thursday proudly wearing England jerseys and sipping local lager.
“I watched these games on TV and thought I’d like to try,” Tom said, adding that his father was “craving to experience it” and will be cheering on captain Harry Kane to lift the trophy in Berlin on July 14. “I think we have as good a chance as anyone. We can’t just sit back and do nothing, we have to demand the game,” he said.
Taxi driver Peter Udall, 53, from Luton, Beds, said in a conversation between father and son. I think a lot of it is post-COVID. Life is short, get out and enjoy it,” he said, adding, “In my eyes, this is a done deal, we’re going to win and that’s it.”
Julie Popple, 57, and her son Jack, 24, had flown in from their home in Zug, Switzerland. An excited Julie said: “We’re here for a big game against Serbia so we’re hoping for a big win.” However, he said: “It will be a tough match, but I can’t imagine Serbia beating us.”
Kevin Coomer, 38, travelled from Bristol with his father Gary, 69. The energy supply company boss admitted it was meant to be a Father’s Day gift for his father, but that his father’s aging had ultimately taken its toll. Kevin laughed: “I bought him an England cap and an England jersey.”
The father and son were out with friends Matt Roles, 54, and Alex Stell, 30. Matt, an insurance broker, said: “There’s a great fanbase here.
Adam Nixon, a history teacher, 22, flew from Fleetwood, Lancashire, to Amsterdam with a group of 10 former schoolmates, then took the train to Essen. ” They all have tickets for tonight’s game. Adam said: “This is the best, I love life, I love life.”
Jamie Holbook, 49, a company boss from Grimsby, North Lincolnshire, said: “I’ve got tickets for the first two games and can’t wait to see what this England team can do.
“I’m sure the atmosphere will improve over the next few days and if players like Jude Bellingham get into form England will have a great chance,” said his friend and care manager David Blake, 57. “I’ve seen him here and he’s looking forward to some football and a beer. It’s going to be a great party.”
Alexia Zamani, 22, a fashion student from Oxford attending Leeds University, said: “I’m sure the atmosphere will improve over the next few days and if players like Jude Bellingham get into form England will have a great chance.”
I think Harry Kane will be on the scoresheet at 3-1. In Gelsenkirchen were Bournemouth fan Alan Marsh (41, scaffolder) and his son Tommy (10), and Arsenal fan heating engineer Aaron Drayton (39) and his son Theo. , 8, on the way. Alan said: “We drove from Bournemouth to Gelsenkirchen. It took 11 hours but it was worth it.”
Aaron said: “We don’t have tickets for the match but we wanted the boys to have the experience of being in the fan zone. We’re all really looking forward to it. “I hope this will be a memory that they will cherish forever,” captain Kane echoed that comment last night, telling reporters. “If we can do this, nothing could be better for us and for the country.
“In past tournaments we have done a lot of things well and made the country proud. I think we have earned the right to be among the favourites to win.”
Those without tickets will be asked to go to the fan zone at the trotting track, where organisers will provide 80,000 litres of beer, 40,000 bottles of soft drinks and have delivered 7.5 tonnes of fries and 32,000 sausages. German police believe around 10,000 Serbians have tickets for the match, which has been classed as a “high risk match” due to fears of violence from up to 500 Serbian hooligans.
After the Serbia game, England return to their accommodation near Blankenheim before facing Denmark in Frankfurt next Thursday. Their final Group C game is against Slovenia in Cologne on 25 June.