IT’S SEMI HEAVEN!
Nation in frenzy after Three Lions victory
ENGLAND’S historymakers ensured Sweden met their Waterloo yesterday to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 28 years.
Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli sent the Abba Boys home – and 4,000 England fans inside Russia’s Samara Arena into dreamland.
Gareth Southgate’s young lions now face their side’s biggest match in three decades when they take on Crotia, who beat Russia on penalties, in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium at 7pm on Wednesday.
England are now assured of at least equalling their second best World Cup display. They can finish no worse than fourth – which they achieved in Italy in 1990. They and France are the only World Cup winners left in the contest.
Southgate had urged them to “write history” before the match.
And victory had fans starting to believe the team could end 52 years of hurt since England’s only World Cup win in 1966.
Prince William led the accolades to the side. He tweeted: “You wanted to make history @England and you are doing just that. This has been an incredible #WorldCup run and we’ve enjoyed every minute. You deserve this moment – Football’s Coming Home! W.’’
In the stadium triumphant fans sang “Football’s coming home” from the moment Alli headed England 2-0 ahead with half an hour remaining.
The final whistle triggered delirious scenes as defender John Stones leapt on goalscorer Maguire, and Alli ripped off his shirt and tossed it into the crowd.
Others hugged goalie Jordan Pickford, who followed up Tuesday’s match-winning penalty shootout save against Colombia with two world-class stops.
England’s fans refused to leave the stadium afterwards as they sang non-stop for 30 minutes.
An hour after the final whistle Southgate went back on to the pitch and conducted the celebrations.
Captain Harry Kane also went back out and applauded the fans.
He then went into the section where the England WAGs were sitting and chatted with relatives.
Among fans celebrating in the stadium was Darren Hurst, 54, a council sweeper from Derby.
He said: “I am ecstatic. It means so much just to get a victory at this stage and it is the biggest since ‘66 in my view. I say that because I have never been to a semi or final. It’s football heaven.
“My dad Les, who died three years ago from cancer, told me all about the 1966 final, and I can now go to my grave happy that we have
ENGLAND fans are in dreamland after the Three Lions roared into the World Cup semi-final.
Goals from defender Harry Maguire and Dele Alli sent Sweden crashing out and took England into the last four for the first time in 28 years.
Next it’s Croatia.