Dutch police warn West Ham fans as 5,000 spectators travel to Holland for decider against AZ Alkmaar
Up to 5,000 West Ham fans will travel to Holland as the Hammers aim to reach their first European final in 47 years.
West Ham meet AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night to lead 2-1 in the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg.
The club only have an away contingent of 975 at the 19,500-seat AZ Stadium, five times fewer than expected to make the trip, and Dutch police have warned fans without tickets not to travel to the stadium.
Local authorities provide buses to take West Ham fans from the city center to the stadium and back to Alkmaar Central Station after the game.
Many Hammers fans are expected to remain in the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, 40km south of Alkmaar, before traveling to the game by train.
West Ham were due to train at the Rush Green this morning before flying to Holland, where manager David Moyes will give an update on Michail Antonio’s fitness tonight.
Antonio picked up a minor calf injury after scoring the winner in the first leg and missed Sunday’s trip to Brentford as a precaution. However, the striker is believed to be fit as West Ham look to reach a EURO final for the first time since the 1976 Cup Winners’ Cup game. Cup defeat against Anderlecht.
Moyes made nine changes to his team for the 2-0 loss to the Bees but could undo them all if Antonio is fit, although Angelo Ogbonna is urging starting alongside Kurt Zouma after Nayef Aguerd The Gtech Community Stadium was to blame for both goals.
The winner of the duel meets either Basel or Fiorentina in the final.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-az-alkmaar-fans-5000-dutch-police-b1081772.html Dutch police warn West Ham fans as 5,000 spectators travel to Holland for decider against AZ Alkmaar
