The Euros have kicked off – now, here’s how to improve the reputation of English football fans

After Scotland’s crushing defeat against Germany in the opening match of the Euros, you could have forgiven Scottish fans for feeling a bit cross. Yet, just as they had raucously greeted their team ahead of kick-off, so they vigorously applauded them at full-time. And as they made their way back into town from the Allianz Arena, many belted out “Flower of Scotland” as vigorously as they had done when the teams lined up before the match. They were not going to let a 5-1 thrashing spoil their joyful mood.

In the days prior to the tournament, the Tartan Army had arrived in Munich in their droves – up to 200,000 reportedly making the trip, despite only 25,000 actually having tickets for the game. The city thronged to the giddy sound of bagpipes, and kilts outnumbered lederhosen, as Scotland’s followers made the most of their first major finals overseas for a quarter of a century.

Locals might have baulked at the prospect of being descended upon by a chanting mass of football fans, but that is to ignore the reputation of the Scottish supporters, who are renowned for bringing fun and friendliness on their travels. Munich might have been less relaxed had it been English hordes pouring in. Indeed, look at what happened today in Gelsenkirchen, where English and Serbian fans violently clashed in the streets ahead of their respective countries’ teams facing off this evening. The scenes are shocking – but not surprising.

It is an oddity that the respective fans of the neighbouring teams of England and Scotland carry with them such differing associations. Both groups will drink a city dry, but the Scots will apparently leave with a smile on their face and a lingering glow in their wake, while the English will depart with a cut lip and an instruction never to return. Marseille, Brussels and Stuttgart still bear the scars – as does Wembley, after ticketless hooligans tried to break through the barriers during the last Euros final, when England lost to Italy.

Maybe it’s a question of expectations. England, despite their lack of trophies, go into every tournament with fans believing a win is there for the taking, almost as a birthright. Football will finally come “home”.

For Scotland, getting to a major finals is a rare achievement, so why not enjoy the party along with everyone else there? And who really wants to leave a party with a bloody nose? Well, English hooligans, it seems.

Perhaps the difference just comes down to trousers. English fans tend to roam the streets in tight jeans, getting themselves in a sweaty pickle, whereas the Tartan Army are merrily keeping themselves cool in kilts. No wonder they’re more chilled out and less edgy. Italian, Dutch, Polish and German ultras could probably do with looser clothing, too.

Of course, it’s only ever a minority of fans who are out to cause trouble. And since the advent of travel bans for known offenders, it’s more straightforward to keep the worst of them away. But for those on the periphery of violent activity, music could provide a better outlet for their energy.

The Tartan Army has made a name for itself through the dubious joys of the bagpipe. Could England’s travelling support not endear itself to host cities across the world if some of the fans took up the clarinet or the bassoon? Any fan thought to be looking for a bit of a ruck could immediately be dragooned into a woodwind ensemble, giving concerts in bars and bierkellers from Gelsenkirchen to Berlin.

Gareth Southgate says England will need to be “exceptional” to get through the Euros group stages – and just think how buoyed up the players would be if they lined up to the strains of Elgar or Vaughan Williams.

True, the joyful and musical outlook of Scottish fans doesn’t always translate into success for their national team. But there’s surely no doubt that bad fan behaviour can be a distraction – and that’s the last thing England need, if they are finally to taste tournament victory for the first time since 1966.