NO, IT WASN’T A DREAM!
We really did beat Germany
THE roar that greeted the final whistle sensed football just might be coming home.
England’s heroic Three Lions last night saw off 55 years of hurt to finally defeat their German arch-rivals with a stunning 2-0 victory atWembley.
From living rooms, to sociallydistanced pubs and fan zones the early evening victory sparked wild scenes of celebration.
And football lovers started to dream that this really could be a chance to win Euro 2020 and a first major trophy since 1966 – starting with the quarter-final in Rome on Saturday.
The rush hour became the hush hour during a tense first-half as fans held their collective breath watching England’s youthful team take on opponents who have for decades proved the national team’s nemesis. But not this time. Cheered on by a raucous 45,000 crowd at Wembley the team rose magnificently to the occasion with second half goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane sealing a historic win. Despite the weight of history, England’s supporters had been in optimistic mood as the clocked ticked down to their last-16 showdown.
Pubs swelled with supporters wearing replica strips from across the decades in the hours leading up to the 5pm kick-off, while flags of St George billowed in the mid-summer breeze as fans got into the feel-good spirit. In designated fan zones across the country a sizzling partisan atmosphere was created with sing-alongs including Three Lions, World in Motion, Vindaloo and This Time.
Enticing
Hopes of ending the 55 years of hurt since the national team’s World Cup winning exploits of 1966 had been raised by England’s steady, if unspectacular, progression through the group stages of the competition without conceding a goal.
After favourites France, the
Netherlands, and reigning champions Portugal were all eliminated, England’s path to major tournament success now looks as enticing as it is ever likely to be.
Fans at the Camp and Furnace in Liverpool had watched on two large screens as the game teetered on a knife-edge before the atmosphere exploded with Sterling’s goal.
In London’s Trafalgar Square a party atmosphere broke out after Kane scored England’s second with drink’s thrown skywards.
IT worker Matt Champion, 32, from Bristol, marked his birthday with the win. He said: “It’s unbelievable, I never saw this coming.
“I bought a cigar from Cuba in anticipation for the win. This is the best birthday party I could have ever organised.”
Student Sam Brummer, 20, from north-west London, said of England’s first goal: “It’s the best moment of my life. I’m going to tell my grandkids about it.”
Jay Gittelmon, 20, added: “I’ve never felt anything like that, I’ve had to use my inhaler as I ran out of breath.”
The sky overWembleyWay was turned red and white as fans let off flares and gave a rousing rendition of It’s Coming Home. Fan zones were sold-out far in advance while pub landlords had to manage social distancing rules amidst a clamour from thirsty supporters.
The Big Tree pub in Sheffield threw open its doors at 7am to welcome fired up fans with 500 flags and 2,000 feet of bunting.
The British Beer & Pub Association had estimated
Favourites
England fans would sup five million pints during the clash but the victory was likely to have sparked a rush for champagne.
Last night England were installed as 2-1 favourites as Euro 96 hero Alan Shearer declared: “We’ll never have a better chance to win it”.
The Three Lions face the winners of last night’s clash between Sweden or the Ukraine at 8pm on Saturday in Rome.