England and Serbia fans to be served low-alcohol beer as German police identify Euro 2024 clash between 2 teams as 'high-risk' fixture
German police have identified England's Euro 2024 opener with Serbia as a 'high-risk' game. As a result, among several measures, they intend to serve beer with low alcohol content. The two teams lock horns in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday (June 16).
Gareth Southgate's side are regarded as one of the pre-tournament favourites as they seek to go one better than in the last edition three years ago when they lost to Italy on penalties in the final after six straight wins.
Meanwhile, The Daily Mail reported Serbian fans clashing with German police in a training session. With over 40,000 English fans and 'several thousand' Serbian fans expected in Gelsenkirchen, the police is taking nothing for granted and have put in some stern measures for crowd control.
The England-Serbia match will see fans getting served low-strength beer. England fans will not be allowed to consume alcohol in the city's main square but they could do in the city's bars and a designated fan zone area. The police posted (as per ladbible):
“It is just the England game which will have the low-strength beer. … Fans are not allowed to drink alcohol in the city’s main square, Heinrich-Konig-Platz. An England fan with a can or bottle of beer in the square will be asked to put it away, or it will be taken away. They will not immediately be arrested.
"The square will be a fan zone for other games in the city, but not for England. Fans can however drink alcohol in the city’s bars and in a fan zone for England fans at the racecourse.”
As per the BBC, the two sets of fans won't be allowed to mingle and that over 1000 German police offers will be on duty.
It's not yet known if similar measures will also be in place at the venues for England's next two group games: Denmark (June 20, Frankfurt) and Slovenia (June 25, Cologne).
England vs Serbia: Head-to-head and more
England and Serbia will meet in a competitive fixture for the first time. The Three Lions' only meeting with Serbia - then playing as Serbia & Montenegro - happened in a friendly in June 2003, which the former won 2-1.
Steven Gerrard gave the Three Lions the lead inside 35 minutes before Nenad Jestrovic restored parity on the cusp of half-time. Joe Cole, though, scored the winner eight minutes from time.
Fast forward 21 years, the two teams are preparing to renew acquaintances in their European Championship opener, which has seen elaborate measures put in place by the host city. Will the game live up to its billing?