England fans square up to Swedes (From Hampshire Chronicle)

England fans square up to Swedes

11:19pm Thursday 14th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Drunken England and Sweden football fans have been kept apart by security at a fan zone at Euro 2012.

The two sets of supporters in Kiev chanted loudly towards each other, but several efforts to break a line of security personnel were quickly halted.

About 100 England fans and 200 Sweden supporters were involved.

Minutes earlier the thousands of football supporters inside the fan zone were drenched by a heavy downpour as they watched Spain play Ireland on large television screens. The England fans had congregated at a marquee opposite an area set aside for Sweden.

Around 20,000 Scandinavians are expected at the Olympic Stadium for Friday night's match, compared to just 5,000 from England.

Project manager Chris Banks, 24, from Reading, Berkshire, said: "Sweden have got their own bars and restaurants so they all congregate in the same place. But England fans are making themselves known. We're loud!"

Travel agent Phil Davis, 34, from Nottingham, said: "They're pretty much everywhere, it's a little part of Sweden but we've set up camp opposite them. It doesn't match up, but it's a decent effort."

History is against Roy Hodgson's men as the Three Lions have never beaten Sweden in a competitive match. But England fans predicted the team could claim all three points with a vital win.

Meanwhile, the England band has been given assurances it will be allowed into the remaining games at Euro 2012.

After driving 2,800 miles to Donetsk for Monday's opener with France and being granted admittance to the stadium, the band was stunned when security staff confiscated their instruments. Following representations by the Football Association, Uefa has confirmed the band will be allowed into the game.