Hundreds of England followers have arrived in Cologne forward of their aspect’s closing Euro 2024 group recreation in opposition to Slovenia.
Three Lions supporters drank lagers and went by way of their full repertoire of soccer anthems, together with ‘Do not take me dwelling’ and ‘Candy Caroline’ within the picturesque squares of the town’s Altermarkt.
And because the night wore on outcomes elsewhere meant England had certified for the final 16 no matter what occurs on Tuesday, with the Three Lions now assured to both end within the high two spots in Group C or be higher than third place sides in different teams.
Some England fanatics had been joined final night time by a bunch of Slovenians in celebrating the top of Scotland’s Euro journey after the Tartan Military misplaced 1-0 to Hungary on Sunday.
The 2 units of soccer followers belted out the chants ‘Scotland’s going dwelling and England’s on the p***’ in addition to ‘Scotland go dwelling’ in jubilant scenes after the Auld Enemy suffered one other early event exit.
In the present day England supporters downed pints within the blazing Cologne sunshine which shone on the various bars and eating places lining the nice outdated quarter of the town.
England followers wearing reproduction shirts collect in Cologne forward of the ultimate group match in opposition to Slovenia on Tuesday night time
Three Lions supporters pose forward of the historic Cologne Cathedral at the moment
England followers construct up the pre-match ambiance in Cologne because the Three Lions put together to face Slovenia
Three Lions followers arrived within the space by prepare, automotive and even campervan, with some going straight from Frankfurt after England’s 1-1 draw in opposition to Denmark, and launched straight into loud renditions of ‘Candy Caroline’.
The Neil Diamond basic turned an England anthem on the final Euros in 2021 and accompanied Gareth Southgate’s aspect all the way in which to the ultimate at Wembley the place they misplaced on penalties to Italy.
And the tune got here out as soon as once more this afternoon with Three Lions fanatics in good spirits as they waved their arms within the air and danced across the outside tables at packed out bars in Cologne.
Whereas the scenes within the metropolis remained largely good-natured throughout a day the place hundreds of followers descended on pubs and drank litres of beer, some followers offered a bitter notice by chanting unsavoury songs.
A rendition of ‘Ten German Bombers’ could possibly be heard on the streets whereas a few followers waved a World Warfare II-era RAF aircraft.
Three Lions supporters have been warned by German police to not sing the music with a transparent message: ‘Do not be a d***!’
Sung to the tune of ‘If You are Completely satisfied and You Know It’, the mantra refers to German casualties within the Second World Warfare.
It has usually been heard at England matches, together with within the pre-match construct up for Euros matches in opposition to Serbia in Gelsenkirchen and in opposition to Denmark in Frankfurt.
England followers get able to cheer their staff on tomorrow night time in an enormous Euros recreation
Supporters made their method to the historic German metropolis and had been in good spirits at the moment
Some even kicked a soccer round within the shadow of the cathedral because the social gathering ambiance constructed up
An England fan pictured holding a World Warfare II-era RAF aircraft in Cologne. Three Lions supporters have been warned by German police to not sing the ‘Ten German bombers’ music
There are fears that it could possibly be often heard on the Euros and regardless of the warning of German authorities, they’re powerless to cease it.
In line with The telegraph, chief of police Peter Each mentioned: ‘That is what I’d say to them: Do not be a d***. In the event that they sing a music like this, I can not change it.
‘It isn’t punishable in Germany. I hope that each one the opposite peaceable and law-abiding followers say to them: “Cease it.”
‘I do know, and all folks in Germany know, there’s a long-lasting sporting rivalry between England and Germany. Nevertheless it’s vital for me to say it is solely a sporting one.
‘Our nations have been, and stay, allies for over seven many years.’
Final night time followers of England and Slovenia, who will likely be bitter rivals on Tuesday night time for a tense closing group match, joined forces to poke enjoyable at Scotland’s expense after the Tartan Military had been knocked out of the event.
Scotland misplaced 1-0 to a brutal one centesimal minute Hungarian winner condemning them to a different group stage exit.
And soccer followers wallowed in Tartan Military distress in Cologne final night time Scotland’s going dwelling and England’s on the p***’ in addition to ‘Scotland go dwelling’.
England followers of all ages have been having fun with the German sunshine forward of the match in opposition to Slovenia in Cologne
Supporters waved England flags and sang songs within the metropolis’s squares at the moment
Final night time Three Lions supporters had been joined by Slovenian followers in mocking an early Scotland exit after the Tartan Military misplaced 1-0 to Hungary
In the meantime Three Lions supporters led chants of ‘Scotland get battered all over the place they go’ as followers waved England flags and Slovenia banners in hectic scenes within the German metropolis.
The England aspect have confronted criticism from supporters and ex-players after a dismal 1-1 draw to Denmark on Thursday.
Gary Lineker was certainly one of a number of distinguished media figures to slam the exhibiting, branding the efficiency ‘s***’ on The Relaxation is Soccer, a podcast he hosts and owns by way of his Goalhanger manufacturing firm.
Talking forward of England’s closing group recreation in opposition to Slovenia, captain Harry Kane hit again and insisted former England gamers ought to suppose twice earlier than commenting on the staff.
The England captain additionally urged an ulterior motive behind a few of the damaging response, with members of the media utilizing it to ‘promote their very own channels’ as a result of they ‘need essentially the most views’.
Talking alongside Alan Shearer on his podcast Lineker stood by his criticism of England, and insisted that the journalist who put his feedback to the staff would have had the identical analysis of their efficiency.
And England supporters in Cologne have appeared downbeat after the Three Lions’ disappointing efficiency in opposition to the Danes.
As an alternative of singing the fan anthem ‘All of the Manner’, supporters had been unusually quiet – with some calling for supervisor Gareth Southgate to be sacked.
Soccer followers joined forces on Sunday night time to sing songs wallowing within the Scottish defeat
England followers even focused a bunch of Scots in a station, mocking their aspect after one other early event exit
England left again Luke Shaw pictured in coaching at the moment for the primary time at Euro 2024
George Colmer, 31, a monetary guide, from Essex, mentioned: ‘I feel England followers like me have had sufficient. Our supervisor has proven within the two video games up to now that he has no techniques and is clueless.
‘Lineker is true to have a go. However I feel Southgate should not be scared to drop the large names like Harry Kane. We’d like a recent begin on this competitors and recent names going ahead.’
Luke Kennelly, a Manchester United fan, mentioned: ‘We now have acquired to make modifications and make them now.
‘We’re weak as a staff and we have now a weak supervisor in Southgate. His defensive techniques are going to get us in numerous hassle in opposition to Slovenia who’ve drawn their first two video games and are very a lot within the dialog. ‘
England fan Harry Webster, 58, of Croydon, mentioned: ‘I used to be in Russia and Qatar for the World Cups and we had been excellent.
‘However we have now gone backwards and I used to be in Frankfurt once we had been terrible and fortunate to get a draw with Denmark.
‘I used to be eager about it on the prepare right here and historical past has proven that each England supervisor other than Sir Alf Ramsey will get it incorrect in the long run.
‘We now have in actuality solely a small probability of profitable the Euros in Germany so I hope Southgate and his staff go down on the very least combating.’
Followers in camper vans relax earlier than the match with cans of Euros themed beer
Many broadly draped their wheels with England flags in a home-from-home caravan park
Younger soccer followers joined within the enjoyable as they posed for a household image of their England strips
In the meantime, fleets of UK motor houses – each rented or owner-occupied – have additionally descended on riverside camp websites in Cologne forward of tomorrow night time’s match.
Different England supporters flew to areas together with Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Malaga to hire vans at less expensive charges than again dwelling, earlier than driving on to the riverside metropolis.
The street journey followers embody England ahead Jarrod Bowen’s father, Sam, a former semi-professional footballer-turned farmer. Mr Bowen Snr has been driving a 1,000+ round-trip for every of the three group video games with the West Ham United participant’s brother and two of his pals.
West Ham United participant Bowen mentioned on Saturday his father was ‘doing all of the hours on the motorways’ within the motorhome.
Cologne has three fundamental camp websites – two on both financial institution of the Rhine which runs by way of the town and an even bigger website in a forest a 30-minute drive north.
Stuart Coram, 59, set off in his VW camper van from his dwelling in Chester straight after watching Scotland’s defeat by Germany within the event curtain-raiser on June 14. Travelling in a single day, his route included a three-hour diversion to Eindhoven within the Netherlands to refill on his favorite hen satay.
Mr Coram, a semi-retired plane engineer, mentioned: ‘Hen satay is an Indonesian dish and Indonesia was a Dutch colony – it simply is not nearly as good within the UK as it’s over there. I like consuming it with bread.’ The Chester FC season ticket holder has tickets for every of England’s three group matches, and has visited pals elsewhere in Germany and in Luxemboug in-between.
The solo traveller paid just below 100 Euros (£84.50) for his 4 nights on the Campingplatz Stadt Koln website – cheaper than many in a single day parking charges at inns within the metropolis.
Two followers already congregating on the match space
Jude Bellingham of England and Kieran Trippier snicker throughout a coaching session
The England coach talks to his gamers
Mr Coram added: ‘The ambiance has been good all over the place I have been. It is only a disgrace concerning the soccer, that is been the one disappointing factor.’ Additionally on website had been retired firefighter Mick Bollands, 63, and his salesman son Scott, 34, having fun with a ‘dad and lad’ Euro 2024 tour.
‘I’ve only in the near past retired and this was on my bucket checklist’, Mr Bollands, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, mentioned.
Throughout the river on the bigger Tenting Berger website, Aaron Banks, 45, his spouse Rebekah, 43, daughter Ella, six, and son Thomas 4, along with Aaron’s nephew, Jack Banks, 29, had been stress-free outdoors their motorhome, rented from a supplier close to Frankfurt. The group flew into the town forward of England’s recreation there in opposition to Denmark final week after which drove on to Cologne.
Mr and Mrs Banks, initially from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, had flown to the UK from their dwelling in Singapore earlier than assembly up with Jack and heading to Germany.
‘It has been good,’ mentioned IT employee Mr Banks. ‘The Germans have been wonderful, they’re very hospitable.
‘We went to the fan zone in Frankfurt with the youngsters and felt very protected.’ Sitting of their deck chairs close by, Dennis and Heidi Williams soaked up the sunshine alongside their shiny yellow VW camper van.
The couple from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, do not need tickets for the video games however have been cheering on the staff from the fan parks.
‘To be trustworthy we’re simply right here for the beer’ laughed Heidi, 43, a self-employed canine walker.
Retired engineer Dennis, 69, added: ‘There’s a actual camper van group over right here. We now have seen numerous the identical faces right here in Cologne as we did in Frankfurt.’ Exterior of the town on the large Campsite Waldbad, a ten-strong group of Sheffield Wednesday followers had erected a transportable flag pole to fly the cross of St George’s in the course of their camp, the place they had been taking part in darts.
Electrician Luke Webster, 30, described the forest website expertise as ‘bang on’ however mentioned the group had been but to problem the Germans to a darts match.
His father Bryn, 56, a paramedic, added: ‘It has been good, the ambiance, the travelling, the beer, the meals, the locals. All of us hope England will likely be a bit higher on the subsequent recreation.’
In Cologne’s outdated city market sq., the Corkonian Irish Bar closed on Saturday night time to offer ‘exhausted’ employees a relaxation. However some locals speculated that the bar, which does not re-open till Wednesday, had actually shut its doorways to keep away from the inflow of an estimated 50,000 England followers into Cologne.
A pal of the owner mentioned: ‘They have been extremely busy each since Euro 2024 began and the bar has been packed each inside and on its terrace all day daily. The employees are simply exhausted.’ Yelda Zazcu, who works on the neighbouring Buon Appetito café bar, laughed as she mentioned the soccer followers had been ‘loopy…they transfer our furnishings round and stand on the tables’, however added: ‘They’re additionally form. We now have had no actual issues.’ As temperatures climbed to 27C (80.6F) in Cologne yesterday, bare-shirted England followers had been seen profiting from free suncream from dispensers put in across the Previous City by municipal authorities.
Bowen advised journalists on Saturday that his father ‘simply parks the campervan up someplace’ forward of every recreation, however added that he had suggested Mr Bowen Snr to ‘take the England flags down simply in case the home windows get put by way of if the incorrect followers come throughout it’.
He had beforehand mentioned his father purchased the motorhome to accommodate his canoe, however was utilizing it to commute to Germany as a result of he was too ‘tight’ to pay for flights.
