BUHLERTAL, June 29: Trouble-makers should stay away from England's World Cup quarter-final with Portugal, the FA's fans' ambassador said on Thursday.

Actor Ray Winstone said the behaviour of the travelling England fans was improving but the mass arrests in Stuttgart last weekend were a warning to potential hooligans.

More than 500 fans were detained in the Schlossplatz after England supporters descended on the city for Sunday's second round match against Ecuador, which their team won 1-0.

Police are now braced for the arrival of more than 60,000 England fans in the former mining city of Gelsenkirchen — population 274,000 — for Saturday's game with Portugal.

“I think we've had 500 arrests overall out of 40, 50 or 60,000 people which is fantastic,” said the shaven-headed film star who often plays violent thugs in soaps and movies.

“The fans that were arrested have had that reminder and you can't put that on 40,000 fans, when 200 of them misbehave.”—Reuters