It’s Coming Home! Southgate Parties With Fans

JACK WILSON

England sent the nation in a frenzy after downing Sweden to book a spot in the World Cup semi-finals.

Harry Maguire and Dele Alli struck either side of half-time, both with headers, as nerveless England coasted to a routine 2-0 win. Gareth Southgate’s side will now face Croatia in Moscow on Wednesday at 7pm. It’s only the third time England have reached the last four and their first since Italia 90 they have made the semis.

Boss Southgate punched the air at the final whistle and conducted the England fans in a rendition of his own song, to the tune of Atomic Kitten’s smash hit Whole Again, in joyous scenes after.

Southgate promised to take things one step at a time as he bids to bring football home.

“We will enjoy tonight, I hope everybody at home enjoys tonight because as we know, it is not very often that it has happened,” he said.

“All I know is the managers who have got to semi-finals (with England) are ones I hugely respect and to be involved at this stage with England now is an incredible feeling.”

He then paid tribute to his players and said: “I can’t speak highly enough of the whole squad and whole group of staff because it is so united in there.

“The level of work has been great and their commitment to each other, you don’t get through with just 11 players. They are all top people and are the reason we are in the semi-final just as much as any other.”

England’s tally of 11 goals equals that set at the 1966 World Cup, which they won as hosts.

Captain Harry Kane, who leads the race for the 2018 Golden Boot with six goals, is determined not to get carried away.

“We know there is still a big game ahead with the semi-final, but we are feeling good and confident,” the Tottenham forward said on BBC One.

“We just have to go again, keep doing what we are doing and make the country proud.”

Kane added: “So much preparation went into it and I thought we were fantastic today.

“It was a difficult game, Sweden made it tough – long balls, different to what we have faced so far.”

While goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who made some important saves as Sweden rallied in the second half, felt England had shown a mental strength to progress.

“We knew it was going to be difficult and what they bring to the party, and we managed it very well,” he said.

“It just showed how our ability is coming out and also the mental part of our game.

“We can go and create our own history, but now it is about rest and recovery for the next game.

“It is not going to be easy, but we will work hard enough and our ability should show.”

Before England’s second, Sweden missed a golden opportunity to level right after the restart but Pickford, who was named man of the match, made an outstanding save, palming Marcus Berg’s close-range header away.

He denied the Swedes several more times in the second half and was praised by their coach Janne Andersson.

“The (England) keeper made great saves yet again. You have to respect you are faced with a good keeper,” Andersson said.

“England are absolutely good enough to win the World Cup. They are forceful and well organised. Congratulations to both the team and the coach. They are a good side, who did not give a lot of openings.”

At Wimbledon, fans broke into a “football’s coming home” chant at Wimbledon after learning of England’s opening goal against Sweden – and celebrated again at the final whistle.

Simona Halep’s match against Hsieh Su-wei had just finished when Harry Maguire headed England ahead, prompting some spectators to burst into song in the Court One stands.

There were then loud cheers on Centre Court when the World Cup match ended in Samara, which came just after Angelique Kerber’s match with Naomi Osaka had reached a conclusion.

But England’s appearance in their first World Cup quarter-final since 2006 otherwise hardly registered at the home of tennis.

Wimbledon chiefs once again stuck to their guns, refusing to show the football on the big screen in front of Henman Hill.

A smattering of people in England shirts were on the hill among the thousands watching Rafael Nadal’s win over Alex De Minaur on the screen.

Over on Court 14 a man sporting a retro 1982 England shirt stared at his phone while his companions watched the men’s doubles.

Sir Bobby Charlton, an England World Cup hero of 1966, was in the Royal Box throughout, watching Nadal’s match and Kerber’s win.

Nadal came off Centre Court at around 3.20pm, and admitted afterwards: “I am excited to watch some football, and to see if it is coming home or not.”

The Spaniard did not hold his media conference until around 4.50pm, once England were assured of victory.

Wimbledon’s policy of not showing the football did not extend to the media centre, where some journalists kept an eye on the World Cup action.

Window blinds were closed to prevent fans peering in to watch.