England fans have taken over downtown Dallas ahead of the Three Lions' World Cup opener against Croatia later today. An army of 10,000 supporters has traveled 'across the pond,' while FIFA estimates another 15,000 ex-pats have snapped up tickets, aiming to turn the Dallas Cowboys stadium into a home ground.
Fan Excitement Builds
Supporters have been basking in the sunshine, singing 'Football’s Coming Home.' Gary Taylor, 64, from Harold Wood, Essex, said: 'We’ve been waiting for so long. We’re so excited we finally have our first game.' Many fans visited the infamous 'grassy knoll' where President Kennedy was shot in 1963.
Sam Bannister, 41, from Leeds, and his business partner Chris Thomas, 40, are embarking on an eight-hour road trip from Kansas City to Dallas. 'It will be a road trip and we will share the driving. But we cannot wait,' Sam said. Chris, who sells traditional British pies, added: 'It is a mixture of excitement and trepidation now. I just hope England give it a good go.'
Team News
England suffered a blow as Tino Livramento’s World Cup dream ended due to a training injury, replaced by former Chelsea teammate Trevor Chalobah. The team held a final training session in Kansas before flying to Dallas, staying at a downtown hotel previously used by the Netherlands squad. Manager Thomas Tuchel is in the same suite used by Dutch boss Ronald Koeman, with the pair being fierce rivals.
Stadium Experience
The match will be played at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium, described as 'the world’s largest air conditioned room.' FIFA has ordered the roof closed and air conditioning on to combat searing Dallas temperatures. Gary Taylor noted: 'The stadium is unbelievable. The noise will be fantastic.'
Fan Stories
Exeter City fan George Smith, now living in San Diego, is attending with his son Charlie, 11, and has spent around $7,000 on tickets. He plans to take his Mexican-born wife to the Azteca stadium if England faces Mexico in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, John Stride, 57, from Birmingham, now in Fort Worth, will watch from a pub, saying: 'I just couldn’t afford a ticket.'
