NATION HOLDS ITS BREATH WITH ENGLAND ON BRINK OF GLORY
Young lions to roar in World Cup semi-final
IT’S ARGUABLY the greatest moment in recent football history, one that has united a nation with a sense of hope and optimism.
As Gareth Southgate’s young lions prepare to roar into the semifinal of the World Cup, sporting fans across the county will simply wait with bated breath tonight for the final whistle to blow.
It will either be a moment of sheer ecstasy or agony as England’s hopefuls tonight look to cement their place against France in the final of the global showpiece in Moscow on Sunday.
Motorway traffic is expected to drop by up to a third this evening as fans gather in towns and cities across the county to watch the national squad shoot for their place in the history books and a first final since their 1966 win.
And among those hoping the squad will emulate the success of yesteryear is the widow of former England manager Sir Bobby Robson. Lady Elsie Robson said her late husband would have been “thrilled” by the progress of the current side at the 2018 World Cup. She also claimed that the former manager would be willing Gareth Southgate and his team to win the tournament “with every fibre of his being”.
It is 28 years since Sir Bobby led his England squad to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Italy, where they were knocked out on penalties by West Germany. Lady Elsie said: “Bob would be thrilled by the progress of this talented England team. Representing his country as a player and a manager meant the world to him and I know he would be enjoying every minute of this World Cup.”
She added: “Bob was immensely proud to reach the semi-finals at Italia ’90 and bitterly disappointed not to go further.
“He would be willing Gareth Southgate and the England team to go all the way in Russia with every fibre of his being.”
Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer is encouraging the nation to support the team by wearing waistcoats on “#waistcoatwednesday” in a nod to Gareth Southgate’s pitchside attire. The Three Lions manager has sported a navy blue Marks & Spencer piece throughout England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia, which has led to increased sales. M&S said waistcoat sales had doubled since the tournament began on June 14, with website searches up by more than 100 per cent.
However, football fans have been warned not to “overstep the line” during England’s World Cup semi-final match. Police are gearing up for the clash against Croatia, hoping to avoid a repeat of the alcohol-fuelled scenes at the weekend when fans clambered over cars, buses and emergency vehicles.
Chief Superintendent Graeme Openshaw, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “Fans have to strike a balance and we’d ask people not to overstep the line and be respectful of others around them.
“Unfortunately, we are aware that people have been climbing on emergency services vehicles and blocking buses.”
Fans have to strike a balance and we’d ask people not to overstep the line. Chief Superintendent Graeme Openshaw.
THE NATION will come to a standstill this evening to watch England’s footballers attempt to reach the country’s first World Cup final for 52 years.
While the England women’s side reached a World Cup semi-final in 2015, tonight’s match against Croatia represents the male team’s first appearance in the final four of the competition since 1990.
With an audience of more than 30 million expected to watch the match being screened on ITV at home, in pubs and on giant screens being set up around the country, Yorkshire MP John Grogan is right to highlight the power of free-to-air sport to bring the country together and the need to protect it for blue-riband events such as the World Cup and Wimbledon.
Whatever the result tonight, Gareth Southgate’s young side, who came into the tournament with few expectations, have undoubtedly succeeded in the past few weeks in bringing the nation together.