‘Welcome to Warsaw,forget politics,drink vodka’

“We wanted to show that we can play together in a friendly way. Polish and Russian relations in the past were maybe hard,hurtful,but that is the past and we are about working for the future,” said organiser Jacek Kaminski.

Around 20,000 Russian fans are expected for the Group A game at a time when relations between the Poles and their eastern neighbour have been strained by a plane crash in Russia two years ago that killed Poland’s president and 95 others.

Plans by around 5,000 Russians to march together to the stadium in the east of Warsaw later on Tuesday,have made authorities nervous and some 6,000 police are on duty to quell any violence.

Holding up the example of two Polish fans who handed in a Russian’s lost wallet containing around 5,000 euros in cash on Tuesday,Prime Minister Tusk said it was up to ordinary Poles to ensure all visitors continued to feel welcome and safe.

Hippie talk

“The police are well prepared for these challenges but without tolerance … and a rejection of violence,no police in the world can control the actions of everyone. It’s in our hands. We need to show that Poland is a hospitable place for all tourists and fans,with no exceptions.”

The run-up to Euro had been marked by fears of racism. A few isolated incidents aside,little of that has materialised. As many as 100,000 fans are expected to gather in Warsaw’s main city centre party zone and the atmosphere early on Tuesday was relaxed and friendly.

“There will be no fighting here today,” promised Polish fan Artur Wecki. “The atmosphere will be super and we will all have a great party – no matter if it is with Greeks,Spaniards or Russians.”

On the bridge over which the Russian fans will march to Warsaw’s spanking new national stadium,overnight graffiti had appeared in English.

‘Welcome to Warsaw brothers,Russians,’ it said. ‘F*** politics. Let’s drink vodka tonight.’