POLICE are stepping up patrols in a bid to ensure good behaviour as football fans gear up for the crunch Euro2020 tie between England and Germany.

England’s Lions qualified for the last 16 of the tournament with a win over the Czech Republic and will now face old foes Germany in the next round.

During Euro96, it was Germany who knocked out England 6-5 on penalties in the semi-final with current England boss Gareth Southgate missing the crucial penalty.

Given the footballing rivalry between the two nations, the upcoming match, which due to be played on Tuesday, is expected to be a passionate game.

To make sure residents don’t score an own goal, Essex Police have announced they will be stepping up patrols in towns across the county.

Officers will be seen visiting pubs and checking on punters during and after the match.

It comes following similar action taken during England’s group stage games.

Following the Czech Republic match on Tuesday, Essex Police took to social media to praise supporters for their restraint.

Patrols in towns including Colchester, Braintree, Witham, Clacton and Halstead were posted online showing how officers were maintaining order.

Essex Police reported they had no major incidents in the towns while out on patrols to ensure “that everyone was being safe and respectful.”

But, given the pressure, expectation and rivalry involved in the next game, police will still be on alert.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We’ve done quite extensive work on this over the past few weeks.

“We have been stepping up patrols and officers have been visiting pubs, just to check in with publicans to make sure everything is going ok.

“The bottom line is that we want people to feel safe, and we don’t want one person or a group of people to mess it up for anyone else.

“We’ve had no disorder as a result of the Euros so far, which is really good.”

In 2018, fans watching the World Cup in Colchester spilled out on to Head Street after England victories.

Hundreds of supporters flooded on to the road stopping traffic and set off flares and climbed lampposts as they celebrated.

They even got onto and collapsed a bus shelter.