Jack Wilshere urges fans to get behind England team after violence mars Euro 2016 opener

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James Olley13 June 2016

Jack Wilshere today urged England fans to focus all their efforts on getting behind the team and making a positive impact on Euro 2016.

UEFA have threatened to expel England from the tournament if their supporters repeat some of the ugly scenes which overshadowed the 1-1 draw against Russia in Marseille on Saturday.

Captain Wayne Rooney was today recording a message calling on England supporters to behave themselves while FA chief executive Martin Glenn has labelled the behaviour of some of the team’s fans in the build-up to the match as “embarrassing”.

England’s second group game is against Wales in Lens on Thursday and will take place a day after Russia face Slovakia in Lille, which is just 24 miles away.

There are fears of more clashes between fans of England and Russia, who could also be kicked out of the Euros and have been charged by UEFA with crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and setting off fireworks inside the Stade Velodrome.

England’s support was not at fault for the trouble inside Marseille’s ground but provided a passionate atmosphere to inspire the team.

Asked if he had anything to say to the fans after putting England’s place in the tournament in jeopardy, Wilshere replied: “My message

would be is we’re going to need them on Thursday. It’s a big game.

“The Welsh fans are going to be there and singing and we need them. They can get us over the line.

“We saw on Saturday what they can do for us, they can make us play like that. If they can come and support us, we’ll be very, very happy

with that.

“We’re not going to stand here and say all of that [England’s qualification campaign] is going to go to waste because I don’t think it’s going to get to that.

“What I saw in the stadium was fantastic. They were great, they were singing and having a good time.

“Of course, we have seen a little bit of the bad behaviour, but as players we want the fans to be behind us like they were on Saturday night and continue that.”

As the Russia fans surged into the England end at the final whistle on Saturday, the TV cameras showed keeper Joe Hart shouting ‘be safe’ in their direction.

The wife of Leicester and England striker Jamie Vardy, Rebekah, was caught in trouble before kick-off and claimed police fired teargas into the crowd. Asked if he was worried about his family coming to see England games in France, Wilshere added: “No, I don’t think so. I had family there on Saturday night and they’re all fine.

“Of course, everyone saw what happened in the stadium but they weren’t in that part. Fortunately they got out and go back to the hotel safe.

“I don’t think [the UEFA threat of expulsion] will affect our performances. We don’t really think [about that] — of course we’re going to have to if it gets to that.

“But from what I saw in the stadium, the English fans were great and we want them to continue backing us. We thank them for their support. In the warm-up we could really feel the fans behind us.”

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