The centre of the host cities of Euro 2012 have all undergone a transformation during this tournament. Or rather a transportation. Whole historic, beautifully market squares have been dispatched to another world entirely. Vast hoardings, huge screens, endless branding and a continuous, full-volume blarting of fatuous euro-pop: it is not easy to miss the Fanzones that have cluttered up the middle of Wroclaw, Poznan and Gdansk. For many out here in Poland - not least those of us who found ourselves in the wrong country when our team kicked off - the Fanzone is the closest they will get to immersion in match atmosphere. And the atmosphere in Poznan last night was provided by a noisy gathering of some two dozen well-refreshed fans in England shirts. The British embassy in Kiev had alerted us yesterday that there may be local hooligans in Donetsk wearing England colours in order to foment trouble. But the familiarity with the English fan songbook suggested these were the real thing. It would, for instance, have been some act of subterfuge for Poznan ne'er-do-wells to commit to memory the John Barnes rap from "World in Motion." Though there was evidence in the Fanzone last night of the kind of deception of which our men in Kiev had warned: I saw at least three Irish supporters wearing French favours. And further to emphasise whose side they were on, all the Irish in the place belted out the Marseillaise with vigour, though in truth without recourse to use of any of the words. It turned out the England fans were mainly expats living in the city, several of them teaching English to Poles wishing to seek work in Britain. And the vocabulary they were using will certainly come in handy should any plumber accidentally whack his thumb with a hammer while fitting a central heating system into a house in Peterborough. Sweary they might have been, but the English were enthusiastic, friendly and noisy. And they quickly spotted that the Poznan sponsor city was built round a municipal fountain. "In the fountain when we win," they chanted after Joleon Lescott had put England ahead. Before adding, after Samir Nasri's equaliser had cheered up every Irishman in the vicinity, "in the fountain if we lose." As it happens, they were all in the fountain when they drew. Joined by at least one Irishman who seemingly couldn't resist the paddle. "A great night," one of the lads told me as he removed his now sodden espadrilles. Brilliant atmosphere here. I mean, it would have been better to be at the game, I guess. But this was fantastic. And a lot cheaper than engaging with the Donetsk hoteliers.