Hooligans are back and the two faces of the English football fan are already on full display at Euro 2024

How do you write about travelling England football fans, when each one you meet is polite and thoughtful, but you are already reading about clashes with foreign supporters on the day of the first England match? It is not easy to reconcile the two scenarios.

It is also worth noting that, according to German police on Sunday, only Serbian fans were arrested after an incident between their supporters and England’s in Gelsenkirchen. There is nothing to suggest that the English were responsible in that situation; seven Serbs were taken into custody, and one was accused of causing grievous bodily harm, leading to an ongoing investigation.

While the score in the Euro 2024 Group C game would end up 1-0 to England, they trailed heavily in the arrests column. Not that that’s something to actually celebrate, of course.

Certainly, English jubilation can be conveyed in interesting (read: stupid) ways, as exhibited by footage of England fans singing “Ten German Bombers” on Saturday. That this was predictable makes it no less depressing – perhaps more so, in fact.

One more peculiar moment involving England fans, witnessed by The Independent on Sunday, saw a group soundtrack an elderly woman’s exit from a tram by chanting, “W****r! W****r!”

So, for many reasons, a reputation follows England fans wherever they go, which in this case is Germany, as Gareth Southgate’s players continue a nation’s 58-year pursuit of a major men’s trophy.

Alfie, a 27-year-old fan from London, is aware of that reputation, though he is sure to undermine it. “I like the party bit, but the last time I travelled to watch England was in Porto for the Nations League,” he tells Indy Sport, “and it was really good fun for about six hours, then it gets to a tipping point where everyone’s probably had a bit too much [to drink].

“Then you get out of there, because it just gets a bit silly. I think the minority can ruin it for the majority.”

open image in gallery

With that in mind, the strength of alcohol was reduced around the Gelsenkirchen stadium where England played Serbia.

Alfie does not strike me as the sort of England fan to cause trouble. Of course you can never be sure, but I don’t think he’d strike anyone, in the literal sense of the word. The same applies to Ollie and Isaac, whom I meet on a train platform in Munich, as they prepare to make their own journey to Gelsenkirchen for Serbia vs England.

“It’s my first time in Germany,” says Ollie, 24 like Isaac. “The locals have all been very welcoming, they’ve all been quite interested to talk to us about the football.”

The pair plan on being here for a while, and respecting the local culture seems relatively important to them – perhaps also the cultures of opposing teams. I could be wrong, but it’s difficult to imagine them being among those to have booed Serbia’s national anthem on Sunday, after many Serbs did the same during “God Save The King”.

“We’re going to the first couple of group games, then going home, then I’m coming back again,” says Isaac, “so hopefully England are still here for the knockouts!”

Later, when I meet Alfie, he tells me: “I’m going to the three group games, then going home. I’ll potentially come back out if I can get it off work! I’ve got two friends who flew to Brussels and drove from there; I’m going to meet them, they’re going home after the first game, then I’ll be here for a week by myself. Then my dad’s coming out, and my friends are coming back for the last group game.”

open image in gallery

I meet another English fan called Ollie near Dusseldorf, where he both lives and works. He is looking forward to welcoming friends in the coming days, as they prepare to attend a neutral game in Spain vs Italy.

“I’ve lived in Germany for 18 months now and was here during the 2022 World Cup which was good fun, but the Euros being hosted here is completely different,” acknowledges the 28-year-old from Norwich. “I can’t leave my flat without seeing signs for the Euros. They’re everywhere, which has helped build excitement.

“I also work with people from all over Europe – Germany, Austria, Scotland, you know, Croatia – and there are daily chats about heading to the fanzones and meeting up to watch games in the city. So, as a football fan myself, I’m looking forward to the next month.

“And the Germans definitely love their football. I think I’m probably feeling more passionate about this Euros, as I feel I’m ‘living it’ already by being out in Germany.”

I get the impression that Ollie, given his friendly disposition and host of multicultural colleagues, will respect those people and their countries during the Euros. It is a gut feeling, of course.

But it is not inspired by every England supporter, as evidenced by the distasteful moments already at the Euros. Still, not all England fans should be tarred with the same brush. And the gentler souls that The Independent has met in Germany? They deserve the benefit of the doubt.