Stuttgart turns red and white for England tie

STUTTGART, June 25 (Reuters) Chanting ''we're not going home, we're not going home'', tens of thousands of England fans dressed in red and white poured into the city of Stuttgart today for their side's World Cup match against Ecuador.

Thousands of fans took over the city's main Schlossplatz square, draping the red and white flag of St George from every available corner, and drinking and singing in the sunshine.

The relaxed atmosphere contrasted with the scenes in the square last night when riot police rounded up 378 England fans after some had clashed with German fans, throwing bottles, tables and chairs.

''It's just fantastic, I'm loving it,'' said 36-year-old Sharon Herbert from Tring, north of London.

''The atmosphere is just amazing,'' she said smiling and hiding from the sun under a balcony.

''We're going to watch the match in the fan fest on the big screen. I'm here with my little boy and my partner. This is my first time travelling with England and I think it's just brilliant. I hope they win.'' Some 60,000 England fans are expected in the city for the 5 p.m. (2030 IST) kick off. Many do not have tickets for the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion and will watch the second round match from the city's ''fan fest'' area on big screens.

''This is fantastic,'' said Stuart Owen, travelling with a group of friends from Derby in central England.

''The atmosphere has been fantastic and (whether England) win or lose we've already won, because we're here.'' Some English fans sat under trees and umbrellas applying sun tan lotion as the temperatures soared to around 32 Celsius.

Fans said they were concerned by how the players would cope in such hot conditions but most were convinced that their team would cruise past their South American opponents.

''We're going all the way,'' said Ross Jackson to agreement from his friends.

REUTERS PDS PC1946