June 15th 2024.
A new European football fever has hit Gelsenkirchen, Germany, as thousands of England fans have flocked to the western city to gear up for the Three Lions' opening match of Euro 2024 tomorrow night. It is estimated that a record-breaking 350,000 supporters will make the journey to Germany to cheer on their team, with 40,000 expected to arrive in time for the highly-anticipated kick-off.
Fans have been arriving in droves, using various modes of transportation such as planes, buses, and ferries, to reach their destination. Upon their arrival, they have packed out pubs in the city's old town, proudly waving St. George's flags and singing the popular chant, "please don't take me home." Similar scenes were also seen in Dusseldorf, where some fans couldn't resist poking fun at Scotland's 5-1 loss to Germany in their opener.
One fan, Tom Parkinson, shared his reason for making the trip all the way from London. "I just wanted to escape the dreary weather and election back home," he told The Sun. "It's so dreary there, I just had to get away."
Amidst security concerns surrounding their Group C opener against Serbia, England manager Gareth Southgate has urged fans to focus on enjoying the game and celebrating the sport. Police in Germany have labeled the game as "high-risk," and there have been reports of Serbian ultras making their way to the region. However, Southgate remains optimistic that the tournament will be a great opportunity for fans to come together and enjoy the beautiful game.
As England fans travel en masse for the first time since 2016, all eyes are on their behavior both on and off the pitch. Southgate's message to the supporters is clear: "I expect everybody to enjoy the football." He also emphasized the importance of the tournament as a chance to experience different cultures and meet people from all over the world.
In Gelsenkirchen, fans were captured singing Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," which was the soundtrack to England's run to the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley. However, some fans were also caught chanting "10 German bombers," leading to criticism and calls to stop such behavior. Chief of police Peter Both addressed the issue, saying, "Don't be a d**k. If they sing a song like this, I can't change it. It's not punishable in Germany. I hope that all the other peaceful and law-abiding fans say to them: 'Stop it.'" He also reminded everyone that the rivalry between England and Germany is only a sporting one and that the two countries have been allies for decades.
Even fans watching from home are getting in on the action, with supermarkets reporting an increase in beer sales and searches for football-related items. Tesco is expecting to sell 33 million packs of beer and cider and 5.5 million bottles and cans of "no" and "low" alcohol options, while Asda is anticipating 14 million units of Budweiser sales and over 25,000 large-screen, ultra-high-definition TVs. M&S has also seen a spike in sales for Belgian lager and dips and "picky bits" ahead of the first matches.
As the excitement continues to build, it is clear that football has the power to bring people together, regardless of nationality or background. Let's hope that both the players and the fans can enjoy a fantastic month of football and celebrate the sport in the true spirit of sportsmanship.
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