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Riot police fought running battles with hundreds of England supporters in the centre of Sunderland last night as predictions that the crucial match with Turkey would be marred by violence were realised.

Shortly before kick-off police had made more than 90 arrests, mostly for public order offences, a figure that looked set to rise as hundreds of officers wearing body armour and wielding batons struggled to contain a hardcore of supporters in the streets surrounding the Stadium of Light.