As 40,000 fans in red and white descended on Germany, where tournament favourites England take on Serbia today, expectations in the host nation and at home were reaching fever pitch.
Gareth Southgate issued a rallying cry on behalf of the nation last night as he urged his England players to seize the moment when they begin their quest for Euro 2024 football glory.
Manager 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.'Three Lions packed out a pub in the German city ahead of their opening match against SerbiaGareth Southgate urged his England players to seize the moment when they begin their quest for Euro 2024 football glory
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. In Gelsenkirchen, an England fan who survived 14 rounds of chemotherapy for a rare bone cancer fulfilled his dream of making it to the Euros to see his team play.Declan Rice lining up a shot at England training on Saturday. England are seeking their first victory in a men's tournament since winning the World Cup in 1966
The fixture is being treated as high risk by German police amid fears that up to 500 Serbian 'Ultra' thugs may travel to the country. As excitement for the first match mounted, supporters clinked glasses with German drinkers and waved England flags in the air. Excited supporters could be seen yesterday afternoon booting a football in the air at a packed pub in Gelsenkirchen as drinkers got into the pre-match spirit.
These two lads have embarked on quite the road trip as they set off from Fulham to Germany ahead of the star of England's summer campaign He told MailOnline yesterday: 'It was on my son's bucket list to come and watch England away and he's now a bit older so I thought I'd take him and show him what it's all about.
'We came to Germany during the World Cup in 2006 and that was a great tournament - although Gelsenkirchen was where we crashed out against Portugal last time.Some QPR supporters were also keen to show some support for their local side having already arrived in Germany ahead of the game Three Lions supporters have been warned by German police not to sing the song with a clear message: 'Don't be a d***!'
According to The Telegraph, chief of police Peter Both said: 'That's what I would say to them: Don't be a d***. If they sing a song like this, I can't change it. And as fans tucked in to the Pils in Gelsenkirchen, where the team play Serbia tonight, and the larger neighbouring city of Essen, supporters back home were also stocking up on beer for the big match.
Peter Sirrell, 59, from Reading, flew from Heathrow to Dusseldorf and then took a taxi to Gelsenkirchen but said: 'To be honest, it's a bit like Slough – not that charming.' The influencers flashed the flesh in cropped versions of the England kit and soon attracted the attention of teenager Paule Radovanac as they posed for a photographer draped in the flag of St George.
Ms Ray said her favourite player was Declan Rice and added that she was 'enjoying the great atmosphere out here'. England fans have already started piling into Germany ahead of their Euros campaign. Father and son Paul and Joe Watt - Bury fans from Manchester - are on their first Euro awayEngland and Scotland fans pictured leaving Heathrow for Germany on Friday
English supporters Joe rumsey, 39 and Ryan Bami who are flying out from Heathrow to Germany for the UEFA Euro 2024 football competition The Tartan Army are estimated to number around 200,000 and swamped the Marianplatz fan zone in Munich's Old Town on Friday night. 'I believe in my nation – why can't we win it? They are a well-gelled team but we won't bring it home if people do not believe in them.'
But Mr Smith, from South London, told MailOnline it was 'country before bird' when it came to choosing his partner over the football. Father-and-son Mark and Tom Stoneham, arrived on Thursday and are staying in Essen until Tuesday, taking in the Italy versus Albania clash in nearby Dortmund before watching England today.
'If England don't win the Euros with this squad then they never will,' the 63-year-old said. His son, 29, was equally confident, adding: 'We can definitely win it.' Teddy, who plays midfield for his Sunday league team, said his favourite players were Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane. Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, NPCC lead for domestic abuse, said she wanted to make victims of domestic abuse aware of the support available to them during the tournament and encouraged anyone who suffered abuse to report it to police immediately.
Ms Parker said: 'We were being told by women in refuges across the country that they would not have the TV on during major tournaments. For so many families it triggers the feeling that something worse might happen. Advertisement The 36-year-old said he was 'optimistic' England would not only win tonight but also the tournament. Referring to England's disappointing defeat to Iceland in their last warm-up match, he said: 'Friendlies don't mean anything. I'm confident – the only worry is there are a few players coming back from injury.'
In Gelsenkirchen, an England fan who survived 14 gruelling rounds of chemo for a rare bone cancer fulfilled his dream of making it to the Euros to see his team play. He said: 'We also know from previous tournaments that on days when home teams play, demand for beer, wine, pizzas and other snacks rockets and continues to rise with each successive round.'
South East Coast Ambulance says it often sees an increase in demand after the final whistle in key matches. 'Just a few avoidable calls in an area can significantly impact on our ability to respond to other local emergencies quickly.'But if the excitement gets too much, people should also not ignore symptoms such as chest pain during a nail-biting game.
In the build-up to the tournament, Mark Dittmer-Odell, the British Consul-General in Munich, said: 'We are estimating that 500,000 fans will travel from the UK and up to 200,000 could be Scotland fans'.
'There's a whole new generation of young fans ready to travel. Russia and Qatar were expensive, and Covid ruined Euro 2020.Andrew Patterson, 43, and wife Joanne, 42, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, travelled via Milan to soak up the atmosphere in Essen, despite not having tickets for the match. The Liverpool fan's three travel companions, Neil Gallagher, 52, Leon Owen and Phil Hawkins, both 47, were less optimistic.
Another group of friends since their schooldays drove over yesterday from Ipswich, but were sceptical about England's chances. Paul Buffery, 52, a labourer from Bournemouth, said: 'We got here Thursday - flying into Cologne. So far the atmosphere has been great. Supporters without tickets are being advised to go to a fan zone at the Trabrennbahn racecourse in Gelsenkirchen, where organisers have shipped in 80,000 litres of beer, 40,000 bottles of soft drinks, 7.5 tonnes of chips and 32,000 sausages.
The girls have shared their photos in a bid to inspire the men's national team to glory at the tournament in Germany as they kick off tonight. 'I can't wait to see the unity and passion that football will bring to our nation. Good luck, England.'The beauty queens recently competed in the Miss England final in Wolverhampton and are hoping Harry Kane's heroes can now reach a final of their own.
'It's sometimes way out of people's reach to keep buying new football shirts, they are very expensive, and you should not feel the pressure to keep up. Wearing St George's wigs and England shirts they started the party early, drinking happily and singing Oasis songs and chanting 'Ingurland' and 'Scotland Get Battered'.Scotland fans at Marienplatz in Munich on Friday ahead of the match against Germany England fans then took it in turns to down shots of high-strength German spirit Jaeger - prompting cheers from the crowd.
'There were pockets of England fans but nothing more than that, but everyone was well-behaved and respectful. Brothers Mick and Tom O'Donnell drove 450 miles over two days from their home in Northampton to Gelsenkirchen, via Dover and Calais, in their campervan. 'We left home on Wednesday, drove down to Dover and caught the ferry to Calais before driving the short distance to Dunkirk and camping there for the night.Tom, 62, added: 'We've followed England around the world to places like Brazil, France and Qatar and Germany always puts on a hell of a party. They did in 2006 when they held the World Cup.
Mick joked: 'I'm cheering on Germany. I know they are our bitter rivals, but Scotland is the auld enemy and we can't have them winning.Meanwhile, father and son Paul and Joe Watt - Bury fans from Manchester - are on their first Euro away.
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