There were mixed scenes over the past two weeks in France with the English fans. Many got caught up in the midst of an all-out-war with their Russian counterparts at their first group game. Scenes of a brutally violent nature were screened across the world with the English fans initially taking the most heat for the carnage.
However, as the week went on, released CCTV images revealed that it was in fact the Russian fans who came out in force to start the mayhem. Dressed in paramilitary regalia, it appeared as if the Russian fans were oblivious to any sort of football match taking place at all.
Meanwhile, an element of the English fans picked up the baton (so to speak) and fought back in a violent fashion themselves.
But the Irish did neither. Scenes of jubilation, fun, dancing and singing were echoed across the continent and beyond as the Green Army made their way through both games of a draw and a defeat.
It now appears the English fans have done the same. Scenes of banter and fun were seen right through St Etienne all day prior to their crucial clash with Slovakia tonight. Let’s hope it stays that way whatever the result.