For the England fans in Dusseldorf, this post provides you with all the information you need ahead of England's meeting with Switzerland on 6 July 2024 at Merkur Spiel-Arena.
From Gelsenkirchen, Frankfurt to Cologne, the Three Lions and their supporters will now shift base to Dusseldorf for their Euro 2024 clash with Switzerland on Saturday.
England fans in Dusseldorf – the latest updates
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England have had luck on their side, making it to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 by the skin of their teeth, thanks to a hard-fought win in extra time against Slovakia in the round of 16.
Slipping past the group stages with a narrow 1-0 win over Serbia and draws against Slovenia and Denmark was not what many expected because England was touted as the overwhelming favourites in Group C.
But with many lessons to learn and build on, the Three Lions now look ahead to a familiar foe in Switzerland. England dominated previous meetings with The Red Crosses.
Gareth Southgate, who has a perfect run of results against his matchday opponent, Murat Yakin, is now counting on the England fans in Dusseldorf and back home, hoping his side can reach the semis.
While the bookies and pundits are giving England an edge in this important fixture, Switzerland have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament so far.
Next up: Switzerland. ๐ฆ#ThreeLions | @NuffieldHealth pic.twitter.com/kk7M1uPUb9
โ England (@England) July 5, 2024
Many England fans have been based in Dusseldorf since Euro 2024 began, and thousands more are expected in the city by Saturday.
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โ Free Lions (@WeAreFreeLions) July 3, 2024
There will be at least 40,000 fans of England in Dusseldorf, which is way above the number of tickets allocated for the quarter-final fixture against Switzerland.
Englandโs quarter-final clash with Switzerland will see 40,000 fans descend on Dusseldorf โ despite Three Lions only being allocated 6,700 tickets (โฆand thereโs NO booze restriction this time round either): Theโฆ https://t.co/fmH3MSWVRl #dailymail #EnglandFootball #football
โ WhatsNew2Day (@whatsn2day) July 3, 2024
How many England fans will be in Dusseldorf?
Tens of thousands of England fans are expected in the German city of Dusseldorf on Saturday, and the question is, how many will be inside the Merkur Spiel-Arena?
Based on the allocated Euro 2024 quarter-final tickets for participating teams, at least 6,700 England fans will be inside the Merkur Spiel-Arena to cheer Southgate's squad on, but that doesn't mean the rest will have little or nothing to do.
Like every other city that has hosted Euro 2024 matches, Dusseldorf city has more than 300 bars, so there are plenty of places to visit, including Euro fan zones, to watch the England vs Switzerland quarter-finals on Saturday.
You should also expect a huge contingent of England fans partying on the streets of Dusseldorf, noting that, unlike in the previous games where alcohol was largely restricted, the quarter-finals present England fans with a chance to enjoy plenty of German beer.
Where will England fans in Dusseldorf sit at the Merkur Spiel Arena?
Merkur Spiel-Arena has a Euro 2024 matchday capacity of 47,000, so England fans, like their quarter-final opponents, will occupy various seats in the stadium, especially behind the goals for those holding tickets. You should also see the Three Lions colours in other locations inside the stadium because some fans booked England vs Switzerland tickets through the balloting system.
England vs Switzerland – full matchday guide
Where England fans in Dusseldorf can eat and drink
As mentioned earlier, Dusseldorf is home to hundreds of bars, so you expect plenty of restaurants too. Alstadt or Dusseldfort Old Town and Riverfronts are some places to check for the best dining experience. A few notable restaurants in the city are La Tapas, Palito Restaurant Dusseldorf, and Lezzert.
Dusseldorf fan zones for England fans
For fans without match tickets, Dusseldorf Euro Fan Zones such as Burgplatz near the Old Town or Schauspielhaus are ideal locations to visit and watch the live screening of England vs Switzerland. Schauspielhaus Fan Zone is located at the riverfront.
You will also enjoy live music and theatre performances from various artists. Note that Burgplatz can accommodate up to a maximum of 5,000 people, while Schauspielhaus has a capacity of 2,000.
Getting to Merkur Spiel-Arena – a travel guide for England fans in Dusseldorf
Public transport is the best travel option on matchday, so England fans in Dusseldort heading to Merkur Spiel-Arena should consider taking a shuttle bus or train. Cycling is another way to enjoy a ride in the city but note the entry gate indicated on your ticket for convenience.
If your ticket indicates Gate North/Gate West, take U-Bahn line U78 from the Dusseldorf Central Station, alight at Sportpark Nord and walk only a few minutes to the stadium.
You can also walk from the city centre if you have the time as it could take up to 75 minutes to arrive at the match venue.
There is also a shuttle bus from the city centre, but it is more convenient for fans who will use the Gate South as their entry point. For England fans just arriving at Dusseldorf Airport, connect with a train or take a shuttle bus that stops north of the Mekur Spiel-Arena.