The Russians are a different level

Our lot who get into trouble now generally just drink too much and react badly to provocation or incite the locals by being disrespectful. I also don't believe English hooligans have ever really genuinely set out to seriously hurt people. It was all about respect, taking others territory and generally just willy waving. This tournament is the first really accessible one for a while so there are lots of people there who are not regular England away travellers (there is generally no trouble with England in qualifiers or friendlies) and it's notable how many younger fans are in the footage outside the pubs in the old port where bottles are being thrown etc.

The Russians are sober, organised and far more brutal. They treat it like some kind of war game and seem to want to inflict maximum injury on opponents. A very different and in my book more sinister beast but then that's Russia generally!

Posted By: Jim, Jun 13, 09:44:44