PREVIEW

England fans heading to Frankfurt for the team’s game against Denmark on Thursday (20June2024) may run into one of EURO 2024’s most dedicated and fun-loving groups of fans - five Danes who are travelling around Germany in their “Roliganbussen”.
Their Volvo B10M bus was transformed by Lasse Rungholm, Jan Leth, Kim Barløse, Lars Graugaard, and Erik Bro into the perfect transport for any football lover - well as long as you’re Danish.
Decorated in Denmark’s colours and possessing a bar - complete with draught Danish beer - and a giant TV, the ‘Roliganbussen’ is designed to embody the ‘Roligan’ spirit of the country’ fans.
On the work that went into creating the bus, Jan says: “It has been big work but also fun and we have met each other more than we usually do. Our children have helped with everything.”
‘Roligan’ culture sprang up as a reaction to the hooliganism that was often widespread in Europe from the 1980s to the 2000s - with England matches often attracting trouble.
Instead, Danish fans have long embraced the ‘Roligan’ spirit that football fandom should be about having as much peaceful and cheerful fun as possible.
These days, with hooliganism thankfully less common, the Danish fans have already been enjoying the company of their English counterparts.
“For this stage we are meeting a lot of English people who are very nice and want to drink beer,” Jan said, before adding, “They are using a lot of time to shout about the Scots - we have figured out. But in a friendly way.”
There has, however, been some good-natured rivalry between the English and Danes ahead of the match in Frankfurt.
“Last night we were singing the Danish national song against the English who were singing their song so that’s fun,” he explained. “Then we drink beer together. No one aggressive or angry.”
On ‘Roligan’ culture’s rise as an antidote to hooliganism, Jan mused: “We were trying to do the opposite, (of hooliganism).
“We like to have fun and drink beer. We really like to talk with the English fans. We think that sport is just for fun and we like to talk with every other country’s fans.”
Members of the group have attended two previous tournaments in Europe - though this is their first since EURO 2004.
The bus has even gained recognition from the Danish team itself, with players signing it - and past legend John Jensen even chowing down on burgers onboard. Jensen, who scored the opening goal for Denmark in the EURO 92 final, ate the burgers in reference to the team’s unusual preparation for the big match - a trip to McDonald’s.
“He was sitting in the bus and eating burgers,” Jan explained. “It was some fun they made in 1992. The Danish players were in McDonald’s and eating burgers and all these years later we still have fun with that.”
The group are particularly delighted to see Denmark’s talisman Christian Eriksen back at a EUROs, three years on from his terrifying on-pitch cardiac arrest during a EURO2020 game against Finland.
“It’s been quite emotional for everybody here in Denmark,” Jan added of Eriksen.
The pals now hope the Roliganbussen will take on an even more epic trip in 2026 - as the group is planning to take the bus across the Atlantic if Denmark make the finals in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
“We are planning to take it to Mexico,” Jan added. “We will try. We have to qualify first. But you will see a big ship with blue containers there will be a red and white bus with a flag in the air. That would be a very nice sight.”
As for Thursday’s game? Well Jan knows what he wants to happen.
“I don’t have a prediction but a wish - 1-0 to Denmark. With Eriksen or Rasmus Højlund getting the goal,” he hopes.