WORLD CUP DAILY REPORT

Celebrating their country’s victory over Colombia, English fans turned what could have been a rumble into a wild victory dance, forgetting their lack of tickets and the closed-down bars of Lens, France.

Riot police with shields, dogs and tear gas guns stood ready in tight formation. But they watched the feared English fans hoist their girlfriends onto their shoulders and toast their triumph with bottles of soft drinks.

“Rule Britannia,” the crowd sang, again and again. For a change, they chanted to the French police: “If it hadn’t been for England, you’d be Krauts.”

English fans nearly outnumbered the 26,000 inhabitants of this little northern industrial town, but only a fraction of them had tickets. Before the game, desperate ticketless fans heaved bottles at the riot troops, who moved them back from the stadium and seized some of their reserves of beer. Police charged repeatedly, wrestling men to the ground. About 50 were arrested and several slightly hurt in a series of small skirmishes, police said.

Prince Charles and Prince Harry were among those who attended the game. The two were seen in a VIP box at midfield and were protected by their own security personnel and French police.