English fans were serenaded with Hey Jude and given free beers on the streets of Frankfurt as they met the world’s friendliest fans. Serving up the cheapest pints in Germany, Denmark fans marked their arrival with England anthems as they descended on Römerberg Square ahead of the clash with the Three Lions.
First there was the Goldschmidt family band of two twin brothers and their father from Copenhagen who carrying a guitar, giant tuba and accordion approached a bar shyly, before serenading initially confused fans with Hey Jude. Then there was the red and white Volvo bus that arrived in Frankfurt’s historic market square that began blasting out Three Lions on loudspeakers before several Danes hoisted the St George’s Cross up a flagpole.
Called the Roliganbussen, a 30-year-old Volvo B10M that’s been refitted with five berths, several tables and a bar. The name of the bus comes after the word Rolig which translates as quiet or calm.
“It started back when there was all this hooliganism and fighting. Danes started doing the opposite: Rooligans. Rooli means cheerful, or calm in Danish,” Erik Bro, 55, a consultant from Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city, said. “The main thing is making a good mood between the English and the Danish.”
Packed with 15 kegs of Danish beer, the bus was the idea of a group of friends if they made it to the Euros. Within 15 minutes of the team qualifying they had found a bus which now has a rooftop garden, complete with hammock, which has space for between 30 and 50 people who are welcomed wherever Denmark go.
“Whenever we are out on the bus our opponent’s flag will also be on our bus as well,” Mr Bro added. “We invite opponents in for a beer. The rule is that if a Dane comes with an English fan under his arm, then they will both have a free pint.”
As he offered The Telegraph a pint of Carlsberg on board, he added: “We are probably the friendliest fans in the world.”
Now the Danish King Frederik X has been invited to join them and as the bus toured around Frankfurt the fans said they would love to have Prince William join them when he watches the England game.
The Danes added that “many” England fans had enjoyed their hospitality and as the latest round of their thirsty opponents made their way off the bus, he asked if they were sure they wanted to leave. “Just a half more?,” Mr Bro asked before discovering the keg had run dry.