Cologne's deputy mayor Guido Kahlen had the perfect gift for his British guests today - big golfing umbrellas in city colours for Sir Peter Torry, the British ambassador, and Stephen Thomas, gold commander in charge of the British policing operation in Germany.
Cologne is most famous for its annual carnival - but the Caribbean-style sunshine which has graced the first 10 days of the tournament gave way to something resembling the monsoon season.
Fans from rival nations - England, Sweden, Brazil and Switzerland, in particularly - who were mingling happily in the square outside the magnificent landmark Gothic cathedral, were sent scurrying for cover as repeated thundery downpours threatened to dampen the festival atmosphere. Fans crowded into doorways of shops and took refuge inside bars, as torrential cloudbursts left the streets awash. It was bad news for fans camping around Cologne, where an influx of some 50,000 English fans and about 8,000 Swedes is anticipated in advance of tomorrow's group decider at the RhineEnergie Stadion. There is not a spare hotel bed to be had. It was a concern too for the city authorities who have built an additional public viewing arena for England fans on a fairground on the banks of the River Rhine - it will accommodate an extra 35,000 fans with two giant TV screens with English commentary and food and beer tents. It is, of course, open to the elements.
The deputy mayor said the council was examining contingency plans to use the Cologne Arena, an indoor venue with an 18,000 capacity, if the bad weather persists.
Meanwhile the slightly bedraggled fans were winning more accolades. Newspapers in Nuremberg had headlined their behaviour "Fan-nomenal", while the big-selling newspaper Bild am Sontag voted them the best fans in the world.
All music to the ears of the travelling entourage of officials on the England match itinerary. The police reported just two detentions overnight, while Sir Peter Torry, British ambassador to Germany, said the tournament would "prove a major turning point for the reputation of England fans worldwide".
Last week Sir Peter criticised a tiny minority of fans as "fat, uncouth and bad-mannered" for singing songs about the Second World War. Today he was able to offer a more positive assessment. "The story of the tournament is that that England fans are having a great time, contributing hugely to its success and doing the reputation of British football proud."
