Scotland fans in London RECAP: Tartan Army descends on Leicester Square | England hold Scotland to a draw in Euro 2020 Group D clash at Wembley | Fans sing Yes Sir I Can Boogie | Nicola Sturgeon congratulates Scotland team

Swarms of England and Scotland fans have descended on parts of central London in the pouring rain ahead of the teams’ clash at Wembley tonight.

Hundreds of supporters wearing their country’s shirts, flags and kilts have been chanting, singing and playing bagpipes at Leicester Square, Kings Cross and Hyde Park.

The much-anticipated match, the 115th in international football’s oldest rivalry, is the first time the two sides have met in a major tournament since Euro 96, when Paul Gascoigne’s famous goal sealed a 2-0 win.

Scotland fan Rab Foulis said supporters were “bringing a party atmosphere” to the city and “helping London’s economy”.

Speaking near Kings Cross, Mr Foulis said he had been waiting 23 years since wanting to go to the 1998 World Cup in France, where Scotland played their last major tournament but his wife did not let him.

Ecstatic that his new wife has allowed him to go to the Euros, he said: “We waited 23 years.

“Everybody’s throwing a party atmosphere. We’ve all had double vaccinations and we’re saying, you know what, why is Britain as a country still holding the economy back?

“So we’re here and we’re helping London’s economy.”

Another fan Mark Graham said: “It’s a pity but it looks like Scotland will make their own fan zones.

“We’ve booked a pub for last night and a pub for tonight so we’re well prepared.”

Wembley Stadium in north-west London will host 22,500 people for the game at 8pm on Friday.

Fans are predicted to buy 3.4 million pints during the game, while a total of 14.8 million will be sold across England and Scotland on match day, according to estimates by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

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Nicola Sturgeon said today that players taking the knee at the England v Scotland match tonight would be a “special moment” and “send out a really, really positive message around the world.”

Ms Sturgeon said the match would herald an important moment for the England and Scotland national football teams expected to “unite in solidarity against racism” by taking the knee before kick-off.

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Nicola Sturgeon has wished Scotland’s footballers well when they go head to head with England at Wembley tonight – but said she would ‘condemn and abhor’ anti-English chants from members of the Tartan Army.

Speaking at Friday's coronavirus briefing at Holyrood, the First Minister said the entire nation will be cheering Steve Clarke’s men as they take on the Auld Enemy in the Euro 2020 Group D clash.

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