England fans allowed to purchase regular beer for Slovakia Euro 2024 match

In a surprising turn of events, England fans attending the Euros last-16 clash with Slovakia will now be served normal strength beer, following a U-turn by local police and UEFA. Initially, restrictions were in place for low-alcohol pints, but after discussions, regular beer will be available with limitations on purchases and no beer allowed in seats. This decision came after concerns that singling out England fans could lead to more issues. The council in Gelsenkirchen, recognizing the good behavior of England supporters, had voted in favor of normal beer sales, but were initially overruled. Six England fans have received banning orders due to trouble before the Serbia match, with some facing five-year bans from matches. Mick Johnson of the UK Football Policing Unit emphasized consequences for disorderly behavior, praising the majority of well-behaved fans. Meanwhile, Slovakia captain Milan Skriniar has added pressure on England, suggesting they have not played as a cohesive team and need to prove themselves as contenders. Skriniar highlighted Sunday's match as Slovakia's best chance to win a knockout tie at a major tournament, aiming to capitalize on England's perceived vulnerabilities. Skriniar's comments were echoed by Marek Hamsik, emphasizing Slovakia's potential to cause an upset against the highly-rated England team. With a belief in their ability to triumph as a united team, Slovakia aims to replicate their success against Belgium and shock the world once again. The pressure is on England to deliver on their status as favorites, while Slovakia sees this match as a golden opportunity to make a statement on the international stage. The stage is set for an intense showdown between the two teams in the upcoming European Championship clash.