“It's coming home”. This time it's true! After its clear success in Rome, this Saturday night against Ukraine (4-0), in the quarter-finals of the Euro, the England team is finally faithful to the chorus of the unofficial anthem that has been ringing since 1996 at each international competition. Become a song filled with self-mockery in the face of the repeated failures of a selection awaiting success for 55 years and the 1966 World Cup, it took on a whole new meaning. The double of Harry Kane (4th, 50th) and goals of Maguire (46th) and Henderson (63rd) have indeed offered the English the right to receive Denmark, next Wednesday, in their Wembley stadium, in London.
The quarter-final against Ukraine will therefore have been the only meeting of this Euro disputed by Gareth Southgate's team outside its fetish stadium.
After their three group matches, England had the right to receive Germany (2-0) in the round of 16, which allowed the supporters of the Three Lions to scream their joy at a historic victory.
[🎞️VIDEO - ⚽️GOAL] 🏆 # EURO2020
🇺🇦🏴Harry Maguire doubles the bet for the Three Lions!
⏱️ A header from the first minutes of the second half #UKRENGhttps: //t.co/u3yUmcrbmz
- beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) July 3, 2021
In Rome, only English residents of Italy were allowed to come to the stadium. They were only 3,000. On Wednesday, at Wembley, 60,000 spectators will have been authorized by UEFA for the two semi-finals organized in London.
The English will be filled with great motivation for what will be their second semi-final in a row in two international competitions, after that of the 2018 World Cup where they lost to Croatia (2-1).
They can, it is true, rely on many grounds of trust.
From their goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who did better than Gordon Banks, the last English goalkeeper to have made a major start to the competition without conceding a goal in the first four games.
It was during the 1966 World Cup. In this Euro, England is therefore five games without conceding a goal.
Only Italy, during the 1990 World Cup, did the same.
Kane joins Shearer
Moreover, since he finally released his counter, against Germany, Harry Kane has become unstoppable.
His two goals against Ukraine allow him to join Alan Shearer with 9 major tournament goals, only one unit behind Gary Lineker (10).
🏴 England = semi-finalists 👏👏👏 # EURO2020 |
#ENG pic.twitter.com/lftDdElimL
- UEFA EURO 2020 (@ EURO2020) July 3, 2021
We will not forget to mention the talent of the decisive passers of the evening.
Starting with that of Sterling, able thanks to his dribbling and his brilliant pass for Kane to eliminate on his own six Ukrainians on the first English goal.
As for Luke Shaw - and his absolutely precise crosses - he allowed Maguire and Kane to place unstoppable heads.
“We have the opportunity to do something special,” Southgate said before traveling to Italy. The coach will not need to change his speech when it comes time to return to London. Except before the kick-offs, like this Saturday again, under the whistles of the Ukrainian supporters, it will not be easy to bring this England team to one knee. And even less on its own soil.