Wild victory parties for jubilant England
ENGLAND erupted in euphoria with chants of “it’s coming home” yesterday as fans dared to dream of World Cup glory.
Around 20 million fans at home leapt out of their seats as our boys made the last four for the first time in 28 years.
Millions more in pubs, bars, restaurants and clubs covered themselves in beer as the team covered themselves in glory.
Spurs fan Darren Hurst, 54, of DERBY, summed up the feelings of the nation when he announced: “I’m in heaven.”
In BRIGHTON beach’s fan zone, the crowds went wild when Harry Maguire scored England’s first. Hundreds more in NEWCASTLE’S Times Square hugged each other and chanted: “It’s coming home!”
Emma-jane Hickin, 27, a PA from Consett, Co Durham, said: “England were amazing. I loved watching it, the atmosphere here has been great. We will keep pushing on and hopefully win this.”
David Routledge, 39, an IT consultant, of Blyth, Northumberland, added: “There was absolute elation here. The crowd went wild. The team spirit is just fantastic, Gareth Southgate has done a great job.”
More than 300 people crammed into the Square Peg pub in BIRMINGHAM where flags and pints were held aloft.
Richard Carlton, 62, who volunteers for the homeless, from Edgbaston said: “The atmosphere is euphoric. I have waited for this for a long time. This has been one of their best performances at the World Cup. They believe they can beat everybody which is great.”
Russell Mager, 29, a manager at William Hill bookmakers, from West Bromwich, said: “Nobody is expecting them to win and that’s the reason they are doing better in this tournament. It makes me proud to be English.” Cheeky fans in NANTWICH, Cheshire, paid a homage to Southgate by wearing a navy suit, waistcoasts and masks of the manager. M&S, official tailors to the England team, say sales of waistcoats have rocketed by 35 per cent since Russia 2018 kicked off.
One tweet claimed Maguire’s goal was revenge on Sweden because he failed to assemble a “flat-pack desk lamp”. Another jokey tweet said keeper Jordan Pickford’s top performance meant: “Everton are winning the World Cup.”
There was also a spoof photo of Gareth Southgate carrying a cardboard box from IKEA marked “trophy cabinet”.
Sweden’s ambassador to the UK Torbjorn Sohlstrom congratulated England and admitted: “Congratulations England. You had the stronger team.’’
Prince William, President of the FA, tweeted: “This has been an incredible #Worldcup run and we’ve enjoyed every minute. You deserve this moment.”
Roads were empty, while at WIMBLEDON our 1966 hero Sir Bobby Charlton got updates while watching the tennis.
And even football-hating bride Emma Morrison allowed the match to be shown with the volume down at her wedding.
British Airways reported a 700 per cent surge from patriotic fans desperate to get to Russia to see us in the semi-final in Moscow on Wednesday.
Comedian Russell Brand posted a video of himself reciting a rousing speech from Shakespeare’s Henry V, against the music of Three Lions.
And comic Frank Skinner danced to Football’s Coming Home with his shirt over his head.