What will be the abiding memory of England fans at this tournament? It’s a difficult one to answer. The size of the support has varied and the mood has fluctuated. There’s been delirium at times and despondency at others. There’s been a ubiquitous echo of “Dancing in the Dark” in the streets before games and, increasingly, a chorus of “Don’t take me home” afterwards. Perhaps it will be something more tangential that sticks, such as the stream of St George’s flags on the banks of the Rhine in Düsseldorf or the trams in Cologne stuffed to bursting and rattling like tambourines to the beat of “Ing-er-land” bashed out on the roofs.
Certainly, with fingers crossed before the biggest overseas match in the history of the men’s national side, there won’t be memories of violence. UK police have been lingering in the background throughout, dressed in giveaway low-key outdoors wear but not required to step into action. The feedback from Cheshire police, who operate the UK football policing unit (UKFPU), has been consistently positive, with the travelling support usually described as “extremely well behaved”.
