England followers are rallying behind the Three Lions as captain Harry Kane, talisman Jude Bellingham and team-mates needed to battle again from going a aim down on this night’s final 16 Euro 2024 showdown with Slovakia.
There have been early clashes and a flurry of yellow playing cards on the Area AufSchalke, after supervisor Gareth Southgate made one change to his beginning XI following final Tuesday’s underwhelming goalless draw with Slovenia.
He picked Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo rather than Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, as England chase a spot within the Euros quarter-finals in Germany.
Supporters have been thronging into the German metropolis as we speak and calling for Southgate’s group to play with out concern and silence critics with a thumping victory – whereas again house in England bars and fan parks are brimming with pleasure, and expats tuned in from vacation resorts akin to Magaluf in Spain.
Solely 6,500 tickets have been formally out there for tonight’s Spherical of 16 encounter, however hordes greater than that quantity have already converged on Gelsenkirchen and began elevating their beer glasses six hours earlier than kick-off.
England captain Harry Kane took to the pitch forward of tonight’s crunch Spherical of 16 conflict
Actual Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was trying pensive on the Area AufSchalke
Again house in England, followers ready to tune in at BOXPARK Wembley in north London
Crowds belted out ‘Soccer’s Coming Residence’, tribute songs to Jarrod Bowen and Phil Foden and the nationwide anthem, as hopes grew for supervisor Southgate’s males to carry out like potential European champions.
Greater than 30,000 England followers are anticipated to be contained in the 60,000-capacity Area AufSchalke to cheer on captain Harry Kane and his team-mates, stuffed with hope regardless of lacklustre performances within the group levels.
Three Lions supporters demonstrated as soon as once more that, regardless of lack of official tickets, they’d managed to circumnavigate the system and end up in drive.
England and Middlesbrough fan Paul Walker, 51, who was together with his 17-year-old daughter Kalea, mentioned: ‘Will probably be a dream come true for us to see England play right here in Germany.
‘I dwell right here now and make the journey again to England to see the group at Wembley – we have been fortunate to get tickets within the poll and are so trying ahead to seeing a 3-0 England victory.
‘The group have been criticised unfairly over the group matches as a result of we got here out high and undefeated.
‘It’s a knock-out match now and we should not play defensively. We’ve got acquired gamers like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham who can put the concern into any group within the final 16.
‘England have gotten to be on hearth and present Slovakia they’re in cost. We’ve got the group to do this, with a few of the finest gamers on the planet.’
Mr Walker, who like his teenage daughter wore an England shirt, added: ‘If you happen to go searching you, you see so many England followers who’ve spent some huge cash and put within the travelling time to get right here.
‘We’re all right here for England and I do know that won’t be misplaced on the gamers – we actually are the group’s twelfth man.
‘However even when we win this cup I do assume it’s time for Southgate to go away and I wish to see Jurgen Klopp or Eddie Howe of Newcastle take over. We do want a recent begin.
England captain Harry Kane was seen arriving at Area AufSchalke within the German metropolis of Gelsenkirchen forward of this night’s match towards Slovakia
Additionally among the many Three Lions squad getting into the venue was Actual Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, who scored England’s winner of their Euro 2024 opener towards Serbia
England followers have been gathering inside the bottom in Gelsenkirchen for the knock-out recreation
Delight of England – these 4 Three Lions followers roaring on Gareth Southgate’s facet are the Hawkins household – (left to proper) Glenn, 59, Chris, seven-year-old Enilio and Howard
Excited England supporters have been gathering exterior the Area AufSchalke within the German metropolis of Gelsenkirchen forward of this night’s Euro 2024 knock-out match towards Slovakia
About 30,000 Three Lions followers are anticipated to crowd contained in the 60,000-capacity venue
Amongst these within the stands forward of as we speak’s 5pm kick-off was Jude Bellingham’s father Mark
One assured England supporter had the slogan ‘It is Coming Residence’ shaved on to his chest
England and Middlesbrough fan Paul Walker, 51, who was together with his 17-year-old daughter Kalea, inspired Gareth Southgate forward of as we speak’s recreation: ‘We should not play defensively’
The 5pm Spherical of 16 match comes after England topped Group C with a win and two attracts
England supervisor Gareth Southgate has been urged to take a extra attacking method as we speak
St George’s Cross flags have been brandished within the air in addition to painted on faces forward of kick-off
Three Lions supporters know victory as we speak would arrange a quarter-final conflict with Switzerland
Supervisor Gareth Southgate’s males have been promised fervent backing from patriotic followers
England winger Bukayo Saka’s accomplice Tolami Benson (centre) is seen approaching her seat
Kalea, who has travelled to Wembley a number of instances together with her father, added cautiously: ‘I believe we will win, however most likely like 2-1.’
Technician Keith Randall, 31, from Sheffield mentioned: ‘England followers are superb and we help the boys in each recreation.
‘What individuals have to recollect is that they’re representing their nation and that’s the largest honour for them. However I at all times really feel they’re taking part in for us as supporters too.
‘The stadium goes to be largely stuffed with England (followers) and I am unable to think about what the pubs are going to be like again house. Come on England!’
Two Slovenians additionally travelled to help England and had the flag of St George draped over their shoulders.
Michael Mikla, a 25-year-old from Ljubljana who was together with his buddy Anja, mentioned: ‘I’ve supported England since I used to be a boy.
‘When England performed Slovenia final week, a draw was an ideal end result for me as a result of it meant each groups might progress.
The salesperson added: ‘I might love England to be within the ultimate. The gamers are the most effective they usually play soccer with type.’
Whereas England followers take over the German metropolis of Gelsenkirchen for this night’s fixture, supporters are additionally out in drive again house – together with in Newcastle’s Occasions Sq.
One other Three Lions devotee provides a rallying cry in Occasions Sq., Newcastle, forward of kick-off
Amongst these tuning in again house in England are Ciara and Kirsten Moloney and Sophie George at Luna Springs bar and fan zone in Birmingham
These in Gelsenkirchen embrace these followers in knight put on – left to proper: Richard Dawes, 59, Paul Stancombe, 60, Tony Walker, additionally 60, and Paul Invoice, 57
Two Slovenians additionally travelled to Gelsenkirchen to help England and had the flag of St George draped over their shoulders – Michael Mikla, 25, from Ljubljana, and his buddy Anja
‘Soccer’s Coming Residence’ was the overwhelming message from crowds in Gelsenkirchen
Paint, little doubt – one in every of many England followers is seen being daubed in St George’s Cross colors
Hopes are excessive regardless of criticism over England’s lacklustre shows to this point this summer season
England captain Harry Kane (left) and supervisor Gareth Southgate (proper) appeared assured at a information convention yesterday on the eve of the crunch encounter with Slovakia
Right now marks a return to Gelsenkirchen for England after a gap 1-0 win over Serbia there
Chants of ‘Soccer’s Coming Residence’ and tributes to Phil Foden and Jarrod Bowen have been sung
Three Lions followers expect to supply the bulk contained in the AufSchalke Area
Travelling followers together with households have fortunately posed for footage with flags forward of kick-off
England followers have taken over Gelsenkirchen’s central Heinrich-Konig-Platz as we speak
Supporters have additionally turned out for a public screening at BOXPARK Wembley in north London
The BOXPARK Wembley exhibiting is a aim kick distance away from England’s nationwide stadium
Shut shave – the message appears clear right here as followers put together to enter the Area AufSchalke
Some 16 members of regional league Holsworthy AFC have been amongst lots of of followers who packed into The Sq. in Magaluf to look at England do battle towards Slovakia.
Proudly sporting England shirts – however no solar cream – they downed chilly beer within the 30-degree warmth.
They have been joined within the devoted fan zone by joint stags Scott Wilkinson and Danny Haworth from Accrington, Lancashire.
Scott, 35, an organization director – who was dressed as a child – predicted a simple England victory, saying: ‘4-nil England, no downside,;
Nonetheless Michael Cross, from Leeds, claimed it could be a a lot tighter match, saying: ‘England will win but it surely received’t be a walkover – 2-1 England.’
Nursery faculty staff Milly and Lillie, from Brighton, mentioned they have been trying ahead to a superb match.
Sipping a glass of champagne, 21-year-old Milly mentioned: ‘It’s going to be nice. The boys will come by means of. I believe the rating might be 2-1 England.’
England beat Serbia 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen of their opening Group C recreation, because of a aim by Actual Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, adopted by a 1-1 draw with Denmark and a goalless stalemate towards Slovenia.
If Southgate’s facet win as we speak’s match which kicks off at 5pm, they’d then face Switzerland within the quarter-finals subsequent Saturday on the similar time.
Switzerland yesterday progressed by triumphing 2-0 over reigning champions Italy, who beforehand beat England on penalties within the Euro 2020 ultimate at Wembley.
Right now’s Gelsenkirchen conflict comes in the future wanting 18 years since England have been knocked out of the 2006 World Cup in the identical Area AufSchalke venue, defeated on penalties in a quarter-final towards Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
