Soccer: English fans taunt German rivals

FRANKFURT - Thousands of England fans took over a central Frankfurt square on Friday and helmeted police moved in to keep them away from German supporters as the two sides began to taunt each other.

Though boisterous, the mood had been good-natured as fans played football in the sunshine. But the atmosphere changed when hundreds of German fans arrived after watching their team beat Costa Rica 4-2 in a match shown on a giant screen floating on the nearby River Main.

England fans chanted "10 German bombers" and other songs referring to World War Two while German supporters waved their national flags.

Around 100 police wearing white helmets with visors moved into the square at around 6.30am to keep the two sides apart.

Earlier on the banks of the Main, an estimated 40,000 mostly German fans gathered to watch the host nation's opening victory.

Fans straining to catch a glimpse of the huge screens in the river sat on the roofs of riverside apartments or in the trees.

Two English police officers who are working in Germany as advisers mingled with fans and posed for photos.

Some 30,000 England fans are expected to descend on Germany's fifth largest city where their team play Paraguay on Saturday.

The English are trying to show they have cleaned up their act after violence at previous tournaments in Europe.

"It's a party atmosphere, it's a carnival, the Germans have made everybody welcome," said Cristian Gladdish, from Canterbury, brandishing an inflatable World War Two Spitfire.

One German World Cup volunteer Andrea Filsinger, 31, said she thought England fans should find some alternative songs to sing as older people would be offended while others stood and watched from a distance.

"There's loads of English here," said Frankfurt resident Sebastien Roth. "Like the stereotype some are fat and drinking a lot of beer, but they're not aggressive." British and German authorities say they have worked at an unprecedented level to ensure the World Cup passes off smoothly.

On Thursday, a Greek national was arrested after pulling a knife on an England fan in an isolated incident in a pub.

Around 5,000 Paraguay fans are expected to be at Saturday's match. "We're very happy to be here," said Pedro Vera from Ascunsion. "There are too many England fans, but we will try to make as much noise as them."

- REUTERS