England fans sang their hearts out last night as they packed bars and clubs in their hundreds ahead of the crunch World Cup semi-final against Argentina.
The high-stakes game in Atlanta will kick off at 3pm local time (8pm London) and has been designated a top tier security risk with more than 1,600 police on duty.
There will be no segregation at the 75,000-seat Mercedes Benz stadium and the game carries the potential for flash-point given the political and historical overtones between both countries.
In 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and then four years later they dumped England out of the 1986 Mexico World Cup thanks to Diego Maradona‘s infamous Hand of God handball.
There has also been speculation that FIFA is favouring Argentina and every time the footballing federation’s president Gianni Infantino appeared on TV during the France–Spain semi0final he was booed and jeered.
Other previous flash-points include the 1998 World Cup in France where David Beckham was sent off after lashing out at Argentina’s Diego Simeone – but the two have been pictured embracing at the current tournament.
Four years later Beckham got his revenge when he scored a penalty to knock Argentina out of the group stage in Japan in 2002.
But last night everything appeared good-natured as Three Lions fans mixed with their rivals, singing and dancing and swapping shirts in packed venues across the city.
England fans sang their hearts out last night as they packed bars and clubs ahead of the crunch World Cup semi-final
Three Lions fans were seen drinking, singing and dancing across Atlanta, Georgia, last night ahead of the match against Argentina tonight
There were an estimated 30,000 England fans in Atlanta but on Tuesday they were easily outnumbered by supporters of Lionel Messi’s World Cup holders.
Police were stationed outside several bars that had been designated as ‘safe’ for England supporters – while hundreds of Argentina fans gathered for a flag rally at Underground Atlanta.
There, rowdy fans sang, danced and waved flags – including some depicting the Falklands Islands with the Spanish word for them, Las Malvinas.
FIFA stewards have already been told to keep an eye for banners and flags that have Las Malvinas written on them as political causes and expressions are banned at matches.
By midnight there were no reports of any serious problems – although video footage posted online by Argentine media showed South American fans brawling among themselves.
One news website also described how Argentine fans had punched an England supporter and then stolen a St George’s Flag from outside the Hudson Grille bar in downtown Atlanta.
Earlier however the mood had been upbeat as Three Lions followers sang Hey Jude, Sweet Caroline and It’s Coming Home – while there were also good-natured jeers when a fan walked past wearing a Lionel Messi mask.
England fan Matt Stanley, 26, from Sheffield, was with friends in Atlanta and told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s a great atmosphere and everyone has been getting on fine.
Dozens of England supporters were seen waving flags at bars across the city
Police were stationed outside several bars that had been designated as ‘safe’ for England supporters
The game carries the potential for flash-point given the political and historical overtones between both countries.
The high-stakes game in Atlanta will kick off at 3pm local time (8pm London )
Last night everything appeared good-natured as Three Lions fans mixed with their rivals
‘We have been to the Mexico game, which was awesome and then the Miami match against Norway, which wasn’t good for the nerves, and now we are here.
‘I think it will be close, I do think England are a better team than everyone thinks, so I reckon it will be 2-1 to us.’
Matt and three friends landed in Mexico two weeks ago for the match against the hosts in the Azteca and he was even invited to take part in a live on-air chilli eating contest.
Architect Matt said: ‘That was really weird, we were walking down the street when a TV guy grabbed me, put a Mexican poncho on me and dragged me in front of the camera.
‘In his basic English he said I was live on TV, and I had to try and eat mango covered chilli which got progressively hotter – I don’t mind spicy food so did pretty well and they were impressed.’
Pal Bobby Wymer, 26, a mental health nurse from Sheffield, said: ‘We’ve had such a fantastic time after Mexico we flew to Houston picked up a car and then drove to Nashville.
‘We spent the night there which was brilliant as the music scene is out of this world and then we drove from there to Atlanta for the match, we’ve been to a few bars but not seen any bother.
‘To be honest the only issue we had was on the drive over when one Argentine car passed us and waved and gave us thumbs up.
There were an estimated 30,000 England fans in Atlanta
England fans were seen singing, dancing and swapping shirts in packed venues across Atlanta
Countless England fans have flown into the US to watch the Three Lions side play
‘Then another one went past and the guy was really aggressively making gestures and you could see he was angry.’
Enjoying a drink with them was Tony Moore, 35, originally from Halifax but now living in Canada for work who had paid $3,200 for his ticket from the official FIFA website.
He said: ‘I’ve been waiting for this game for ages. I took a gamble as I could have gone to Mexico but this is the one I wanted to see.
‘There is so much rivalry and history and when I got the ticket I was so made up, I think England have a chance. Sure the defence is weak, but we have Bellingham and Kane up front.’
Mr Moore, who works in renewable energy, added: ‘I’m not sure about New York, though if England make it as I had promised to take my two little kids to Disney but a World Cup final is something that may put Disney on hold.’
Argentina’s players have also been put in the spotlight for singing a song that has jibes about England and the Falklands War after beating Egypt and Switzerland in previous rounds.
The song pays homage to Maradona and current captain Lionel Messi and there have been raised eyebrows as to why FIFA has not punished the team after footage of them singing the song emerged on social media.