England fans are expected to down 25,000,000 pints of beer ahead of the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 match against Slovakia today.
Supporters in England jerseys, and even full St George costumes, have flooded Gelsenkirchen’s main square ahead of a 5pm kick-off at AufSchalke Arena.
One of England’s previous matches in Gelsenkirchen – in Serbia – put police on high alert due to the arrival of violent Serb ultras.
But today there have been joyous scenes in the city of 260,000 in western Germany.
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England fans – some wearing lion onesies – have been pictured having friendly chats with their Slovakian counterparts.
Restaurant manager Umit Yavuz, who sold 7,500 beers in just two days this month, previously told the Telegraph: ‘This is as busy as we’ve been for a long, long time.’
Back in the UK, pubs and fanzones are gearing up to welcome thousands of people to watch the knock-out match.
Among them is tennis pro Emma Raducanu, who was spotted arriving at a Wimbledon warm-up waring an England kit and carrying a £2,400 Dior bag, MailOnline reported.
In Newcastle, familiar tunes like ‘Vindaloo’ have been echoing through Times Square where fans have been gathering hours ahead of kick-off.
Accountancy and finance student Simon Kime, 21, said: ‘I think the game will finish 1-1 with Harry Kane scoring.
‘Then I’m going for a Cole Palmer winner in extra time. I want to see Mainoo come into the team for Gallagher but we don’t need to make too many changes.
‘We have to get behind Gareth Southgate for this tournament and we have to back the lads.
‘I think we can beat Switzerland in the next round but it will be tough after that.
‘If we win, I might have to go out afterwards but it depends what my pals want to do.’
England’s fortunes rest on this one game.
The Three Lions have have one just one of their three games in the tournament – their match against Serbia.
Despite disappointment in Gareth Southgate’s team, hope is not lost.
Should they beat Slovakia this evening, England will qualify for the quarter finals.
Fans are hoping they’ll be one step closer to the trophy when they go home tonight.
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