THE stakes are high today as two home nations prepare to go head to head for Euro 2016 glory.

England will stride out onto the pitch to face Wales at the Stade Felix Bollaert-Delelis in Lens this afternoon at 2pm, with fans across the borough expected to fill the town’s pubs to lend their support to captain Wayne Rooney.

Many will be keen to raise a pint of home-brewed support after Arkell’s announced a special brew to mark the occasion. Hodgsons’ Hopes has an A.B.V of 3.6 per cent, is an amber colour, with a floral nose and a hoppy, sweet flavour. Arkell’s has brewed 26,199 pints of Hodgsons’ Hopes so far as a draft beer.

Head brewer Alex Arkell said: “We love brewing special beers for momentous events such as this. It adds to the occasion and builds the atmosphere.

“Beer and football go hand in glass as one of life’s most sociable duos. I didn’t want to brew a heavy beer, so this is a light, refreshing ale perfect for this time of year.

“What could be better than a month of football and beer, down the pub with friends experiencing the fantastic highs of great goals scored, along with the lows when a game doesn’t go as planned.

“We’ll be celebrating alongside our landlords and customers, Roy Hodgson and all the England team.”

But loyalties will be divided in The Adver office today, with sales executive Laura Rees flying the red dragon for Wales in amongst her St George’s cross-waving colleagues.

Laura, 28, from East Swindon, is originally from Prestatyn in North Wales and moved to Swindon four years ago. All of her family still live in Wales

“I’m proper Welsh, there’s nothing English about me at all,” she said.

“I support Wales. It’s a really big deal especially since Bale came along, he has really put us on the map.

“I’m not a massive football fan, I don’t support a club or anything. But I do like to get behind Wales when they have a big match.”

“There’s not much rivalry between England and Wales but the match on Thursday is a big one.

“My family are huge football fans and they’ll all be watching - because we’re such a small country it is quite an achievement to be part of the tournament.”

She will be fighting hard for her cheers to be heard over those of her fellow colleagues who will be backing England all the way.

Darren Jackson, The Adver’s display advertising manager, was born and bred in Swindon and said his childhood love of football would see him cheering on the England lads this afternoon.

He said: “There has been a bit of banter between us and Laura, but we’re really confident for victory for England!”

A number of Adver readers have made the journey across The Channel to attend England’s games, with Shapwick Close resident Alan Wilson and his wife being among those in the stands during England and Russia’s clash at the weekend.

He revealed the nasty scenes that unfolded following Russia’s equalizer had “caused fear and panic and it was a throwback to the 1980s”.

“It was frightening for people and seemed to be organised and it all started off at the letting off of fire crackers,” he said.

Meanwhile a Swindon Town FC flag is among a haul that have been stolen by French fans in Marseille.