LONDON: Tens of thousands of raucous England fans descended Sunday on Wembley Stadium and central London, singing songs, drinking beer and savouring the occasion, as the football-mad country reached fever pitch ahead of its first major tournament final in over half a century.
Supporters — many draped in red and white English flags — packed to a virtual standstill the famous approach to the northwest London stadium, Wembley Way, downing pints of beer and chanting an array of England anthems long before a ball was to be kicked.
However, as the historic 8pm (1900 GMT) game against Italy approached, the atmosphere turned more febrile, with fans throwing projectiles — including rucksacks, flares, cans and traffic cones — through the air and…
