POLICE will issue photographs and footage of football hooligans they want to trace before England's crucial European 2004 qualifier against Slovakia.

Northumbria Police will today release pictures of thugs caught up in the violence which marred the 2-0 victory over Turkey at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on April 2.

Meanwhile, colleagues in nearby Middlesbrough were preparing for tomorrow night's crucial England game at the Riverside Stadium, which sold out in less than an hour.

Northumbria Police have already appealed successfully for the public's help in tracing people who invaded the pitch at Sunderland after each of England's two goals.

A force spokesman said the majority of the 26 people wanted for questioning about running on to the pitch had been identified and arrested.

The force will now release 18 images of people caught up in the violence before the game, some of which occurred several hundred yards from the ground and several hours before the evening kick-off.

There was a strong police presence on the night and officers made more than 100 arrests as English fans from rival clubs tried to fight each other, as well as Turkish supporters.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "We are keen to crack down on so-called fans who commit these offences and we are working with the Football Association and other forces to send across the message that hooliganism will not be tolerated."