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Two young England fans have gone on the trip of a lifetime by hitchhiking all the way from Manchester to . Kian Patel, 23, and Mujaahid Chaudhry, 21, are both from Bolton and have credited the “international language of football” in helping them cross the hundreds of miles to their destination. All in all, the two mates crossed five countries without once hopping on a plane.

They were challenged by outdoor brand Columbia to get to the game under their own steam, ahead of the launch of the new Konos hiking footwear collection. The pair began their epic journey on Thursday morning when they snagged a ride to Dover for a ferry crossing that arrived in Calais that evening. They then camped out overnight before hitching a lift to Lille.



A fan scooped the two fans up and took them, before a group of fellow England fans took the next leg. The group all headed to Brussels together where they parted ways before a Turkish driver took the pair on to Tilburg in the Netherlands, before they found their final ride of the trip which took them all the way to Gelsenkirchen - arriving on Saturday night. Chaudhry said he was surprised by the kindness and friendliness of those that provided them with free lifts, “Everyone was super happy to be part of the adventure and really rooting for us to get to the game in time," he said.

“Football is an international language, so conversation was always flowing whilst on the road – it was just a really good laugh. Rivalries in football run deep,.

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