England fans are rallying behind the Three Lions as captain Harry Kane, talisman Jude Bellingham and team-mates had to fight back from going a goal down in this evening's last 16 Euro showdown with Slovakia. There were early clashes and a flurry of yellow cards at the Arena AufSchalke, after manager Gareth Southgate made one change to his starting XI following last Tuesday's underwhelming goalless draw with Slovenia.
Supporters have been thronging into the German city today and calling for Southgate 's team to play without fear and silence critics with a thumping victory - while back home in England bars and fan parks are brimming with excitement, and expats tuned in from holiday resorts such as Magaluf in Spain. Only 6, tickets were officially available for tonight's Round of 16 encounter, but hordes more than that number have already converged on Gelsenkirchen and started raising their beer glasses six hours before kick-off.
England captain Harry Kane took to the pitch ahead of tonight's crunch Round of 16 clash. Crowds belted out 'Football's Coming Home', tribute songs to Jarrod Bowen and Phil Foden and the national anthem, as hopes grew for manager Southgate's men to perform like potential European champions. More than 30, England fans are expected to be inside the 60,capacity Arena AufSchalke to cheer on captain Harry Kane and his team-mates, full of hope despite lacklustre performances in the group stages.
Three Lions supporters demonstrated once again that, despite lack of official tickets, they had managed to circumnavigate the system and turn out in force. England and Middlesbrough fan Paul Walker, 51, who was with his year-old daughter Kalea, said: 'It will be a dream come true for us to see England play here in Germany. We have got players like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham who can put the fear into any team in the last We have the team to do that, with some of the best players in the world.
Mr Walker, who like his teenage daughter wore an England shirt, added: 'If you look around you, you see so many England fans who have spent a lot of money and put in the travelling time to get here. We do need a fresh start. England fans have been gathering inside the ground in Gelsenkirchen for the knock-out game.
