German and British authorities collaborate for a secure and incident-free Euro 2024, addressing hooliganism concerns.
Initially reported in the Guardian on a Tuesday, the police chief in Gelsenkirchen - the city where England squares off against Serbia - anticipates approximately 500 hooligans attempting to create havoc.
The UK's Football Policing Unit shared a statement with CNN, mentioning their solid partnership with the German Police, forged through their collaboration on various high-profile football events and matches in the past.
They further stressed their commitment to ensuring a secure and disruption-free Euro 2024 championship for England supporters.
An estimated 40,000 England fans and 8,000 Serbia fans are set to attend the game in Gelsenkirchen, a match classified as "high-risk" by UEFA and the German police. Over 300,000 England fans are expected to travel to Germany for the tournament. The British police have currently imposed approximately 2,000 banning orders on fans.
German police declared their preparedness for the potential presence of violent hooligans in the city, but reportedly have no information confirming this.
In a statement, they said, "The forthcoming football match between Serbia and England is classified as a high-risk match. Therefore, we'll be deploying extra personnel than for less significant matches. The Gelsenkirchen police will be aided by law enforcement from across the state of North Rhine-Westphalia."
"Gelsenkirchen police maintain contact with the English and Serbian authorities as part of their preparations. Communication with the English police is particularly strong, with a consistent flow of information regarding disruptive episodes."
The Serbian Football Federation and the Serbian Ministry of Interior did not reply to CNN's request for comment.
The 2016 Euros in France were tarnished by a clash between England and Russia fans in Marseille, resulting in numerous injuries and arrests.
Around 2.7 million individuals are expected to visit Germany for Euro 2024, according to Reuters, with expansive fan zones established in major cities.
Euro 2024 kicks off on a Friday as host Germany faces Scotland.
The home team
It's safe to say Germans' expectations for their national team are not sky-high.
Lackluster form and performance resulted in the powerhouse federation firing head coach Hansi Flick in September 2023, only to bring in Julian Nagelsmann.
Despite this, there's hope among some German fans for a "summer fairytale," a term referencing the idyllic 2006 World Cup campaign where Germany made it to the semifinals despite low expectations at home.
However, a recent ARD poll revealed that 27% of Germans exhibit no interest in Euro 2024, while only 43% express high interest.
Germany boasts a dazzling past in major tournaments, triumphing in four World Cups and three European Championships. Yet, recent success has been scarce.
The German team hasn't won a knockout match at a major event in nearly eight years, exiting both the previous World Cups in the group stages and getting ousted in the round of 16 at Euro 2020.
With the burden of low expectations relieved, a second "summer fairytale" could be a tangible prospect.
Golden contenders
France and England enter the competition as the two favorites to claim the "Henri Delaunay Cup."
Les Bleus have been a force to reckon with in world football, winning the World Cup in 2018 and reaching the final in 2022. At the previous Euros, however, France suffered a humiliating defeat on penalties against Switzerland in the round of 16.
Since 2012, Didier Deschamps has overseen the French national team. In 2021, he extended his contract until 2026. Deschamps, who led his country to victory in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, also masterminded France's Nations League triumph and Euro 2016 title.
France's current squad boasts a veritable treasure trove of talent, with experienced players like Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, and Antoine Griezmann bolstered by emerging superstars. Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Eduardo Camavinga are just some of the gifted young football stars churned out by France's seemingly inexhaustible wellspring of skill.
Speaking to CNN, Mbappé expressed his aspiration to win the Euros; he said, "I want to win the Euros. I have to be honest. I won the World Cup. I won the Nations League. That's the only one that's escaped me with the national team after I did everything with the national team."
"I really want to win this. My first competition as captain, so it's really important for me, and it's always crucial for the country. We want them to be proud of us. [It's] another opportunity to inscribe our country's history."
England's current football team is bursting with talent, potentially even more than before, and can confidently aim to put an end to the 58-year wait since they last claimed a major trophy at the 1966 World Cup.
Harry Kane continues to be one of the world's top strikers, with support coming from stars like Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice. Jude Bellingham's recent emergence as a top young player adds a new element to England's midfield.
For eight years now, manager Gareth Southgate has helmed the team, achieving more success than any of his predecessors since the last World Cup victory. During his reign, England has made it to the World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 final, but hasn't yet broken the national football team's drought.
Southgate's contract is due to expire in December, and the English Football Association is said to be eager to renew, but the Englishman confirmed last month, "The decision will be mine."
"Of course, we got so close in the last Euros," said Southgate. "We were one penalty away, one goal not conceded away from being European champions anyway. So, the players know how close we are.
"When you've been that close ... in the end, you need to take that final step."
The wildcard teams
Hungary has been pegged by many as the wildcard team of the tournament, having qualified for its third consecutive European Championship.
Led by Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, the Hungarian squad, who will have the youngest captain in Euros history in Germany, sailed through qualifying undefeated and only surrendered seven goals in eight matches.
The team was also second in their Nations League group, featuring Italy, Germany, and England, allowing just five goals in six games. Defense appears to be the key to any Hungarian success in Euro 2024.
"I don't have expectations of anyone or the team," Szoboszlai told UEFA. "We know exactly what we are capable of; we know what we've achieved so far against other national teams.
"I don't want to burden the team, and I don't want the outside world to burden us. But if we feel pressure, we can help each other enjoy the EURO.
"It's not a small thing to be there. However, we do have a very good team. It's like a big family, and together we can do anything."
Ukraine, at their fourth straight Euros, has a chance to make waves in Germany following a solid qualifying campaign.
The team came close to gaining automatic qualification but failed to do so due to losing on head-to-head with Italy. Despite this, they prevailed in challenging playoff games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland, securing twice 2-1 victories to book their spot in the finals.
Every win is exceptionally significant, given the backdrop of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine; this is the first major tournament Ukraine has qualified for since the conflict began.
With players like Oleksandr Zinchenko, Andriy Lunin, and Mykhailo Mudryk representing prominent European clubs, plus the rise of Artem Dovbyk as the top scorer in Spain, Ukraine should feel confident of advancing from a group comprising Belgium, Slovakia, and Romania.
CNN's Nadine Schmidt contributed to the reporting.
