Gloating masked Serbian thugs pose with 'stolen' England flags ahead of Three Lions clash - amid fears that mob of violent hooligans will spark chaos at the Euros

Masked Serbian hooligans have posed with 'stolen' England flags amid fears of violence ahead of tonight's Euro 2024 match between the two nations in Germany.

Images shared on X, formerly Twitter, appeared to show Serbian supporters wearing masks and brandishing St George's cross banners bearing the names of places including Sunderland, North Birmingham and Maidstone.

Tensions appeared high ahead of this evening's Group C game between Serbia and Gareth Southgate's England in the German city of Gelsenkirchen.

England supporters have been filmed in nearby Dusseldorf singing World War Two-related chant 'Ten German bombers' despite warnings from German police. 

But fans of both sides have also come together today to condemn threats of violence hanging over their Euro 2024 opener.

Groups following both England and Serbia have been seen mixing together happily, drinking beer and belting out football chants.

Yet police in Gelsenkirchen have classified tonight's Group C fixture as 'High Risk' amid fears 500 Serb hooligans from hooligan firms called Headhunters and Gravediggers are plotting to ambush Three Lions supporters.

The 'stolen' flag photos have been shared by accounts including one called Hooligans.cz Official - though have faced criticism and mockery in response.

One poster replied by saying: 'Imagine finding a flag, taking it and then posing with it upside down.'

Yet a Serbian supporter approved, writing: 'We are going to lose on the pitch but off the pitch we are winning.' 

Other Serbian fans who are out in Germany have played down any trouble risks and told how they come in peace, saying: 'We're here for the football just like you.'

Nikola Markovic, 38, who flew in to Germany last night, told MailOnline: 'Serbian people are not violent like the German police have said and how it's been reported in the media.

'The game against England is a very high risk match according to the police here but I don't see why.

'The ultras don't follow the national team - they've never done. They would rather fight each other than the English, club teams in Serbia hate their local rivals.

'We've come here for the football just like you. We want to enjoy watching our country in a big tournament like everyone else.

'It's a shame we can't watch the match with England fans because we're being kept apart in different fan zones. It's an over-reaction, I believe.

'I hope it's a good game. I think it'll be a 1-1 draw tonight.'

Fellow Serbs Igor and Milos, 38, also flew in last night from their home in the city of Valijevo.

The pair proudly unfurled a Serbian flag and Igor said: 'All this talk of Serbian Ultras attacking the English is rubbish - complete rubbish.

'They don't follow the national team. Club rivalries are too strong. Serbian fans are only here to watch the team play and enjoy Germany and the tournament.

'We've mixed well with England fans at the hotel this morning at breakfast. It's nice to speak to other football fans from different countries.'

Discussing matters on the pitch, Igor added: 'England are good but we're better, I think we'll win 1-0 and Mitrovic will score.

'People in Serbia are confident in our team - I think we'll top the group make at least the semi-finals.'

Miroslav Romandic, who was wearing a Serbian shirt, said: 'I don't think there will be any trouble between Serbians and the English.

'We have been mixing with the English and drinking beer with them and it has all been very friendly.

'But I think that England will win this game. The most we can hope for is a draw. '

His friend Milan Milenivic added: 'The English defence is weak. We stand a chance there.

'But I would say that the thing about today is it is about a love for football by all supporters. All this stuff about the ultras fighting with English supporters is not correct.'

England fans, meanwhile, were equally unperturbed by any threat of violence as thousands began to pour into Gelsenkirchen from their bases right across the Ruhr.

Many were sinking pints of strong beer straight after breakfast under the watchful eye of German police who have kept a visible but subtle presence around bars and at the main train station.

Alan Tallis, 65, originally from York but who has been living in Germany for the last 45 years, is going to the game with German wife Christa.

He said: 'There's been a buzz of excitement in Germany about the tournament, the Germans are very confident in their team.

'The authorities over here have been worrying about the threat of violence at this game given the history of both sets of supporters.

'There were a load of Serbian fans at my hotel this morning having breakfast. They looked like ultras, big lads and all dressed in black. But I had a chat with them and they were friendly enough.

'Whether they still remain friendly a bit later remains to be seen…they didn't look as though they've come here for a round of golf.

'I wouldn't mess with them but to be honest they may look more fearsome than they actually are.

'Hopefully there's no provocation from any England fans and vice versa. It should just be all about the football.'

Father and son Mark Webb and Liam Webb spent 17 hours getting to Germany yesterday, having left home at 2am.

They caught five trains - Bridgwater in Somerset to London Victoria, then the Tube to Kings Cross and St Pancras to pick up the Eurostar to Brussels.

From there it was a train through Belgium into Cologne and then onto Gelsenkirchen.

Mark, 48, joked: 'After all that travelling, we need this beer. This is our first time away watching England and so I'm really looking forward to it.

'So far it's been a brilliant, friendly atmosphere. English fans have been mixing well with a few Serbians we've seen walking past.

'I hope that continues - nobody wants any trouble. We've felt completely safe up to now.'

Liam, 19, added: 'Most of the Serbs and England fans are here to watch the football and have a good time. We've not seen any trouble.

'There may be a few out to spoil the party but I'm not particularly concerned that there's going to be many problems.

'Any flash points will be dealt with quickly by the German police.

'On the pitch - it's a shame that Harry Maguire is out because he's been a solid, reliable player for England at the back.

'But I'm hoping our attacking options will give us the edge tonight.'

Robbie Roberts, 61, from Gosport in Hampshire, got a cab into Gelsenkirchen this morning from a campsite he and friends Neil Ingram, 55, and 57-year-old Jon Gibbon are staying in 40 miles away just over the Dutch border.

Cambridge United fan Robbie said: 'We've had a great time so far - there were a load of Scots last night in the campsite so we were obviously taking the mick out of them after their hammering to Germany. It was all good natured.

'Gelsenkirchen is starting to fill up now. I think England fans are coming in from all over the place, Essen, Düsseldorf and Dortmund.

'It's only a small place so it's going to get rammed with people soon. We've seen a few Serbian fans walk past on the beers and so far it's all been good natured - I hope it stays that way.

'On the pitch - as long as Southgate gets the tactics right, we should win comfortabl7. I'm going for 3-0, England.'