Sports
England fans go wild over World Cup win (Photos)
Fans back home erupted in celebration and the beer went flying as England reached the World Cup semi – finals for the first time in 28 years on Saturday .At Flat Iron Square in London , where 650 people crammed in to watch on a giant screen , the party began with beer showers and chants of â Football â s coming home â after the 2 – 0 win over Sweden in Russia .
Friends leapt on one another â s shoulders to belt out the song from the 1996 European Championships , an uplifting Britpop anthem of maintaining hope against precedent.
â I â ve been going thirsty to the well of pain for a long time , â said long -suffering fan Stephen Walter , 42 , from north London .
â Now we â re a well – organised team , there â s a good feeling all round , the flags are flying again . The stars seem to be aligned !â
Steve Richardson , 50 , a sales director from Cambridge in eastern England , said he told his 22 – year – old son he would â never experience this again in his lifetime, let alone mine .
â We could actually win this . This is exactly what the country needs . I absolutely believe we will be world champions .
â I â ve seen it for 50 years and we â ve always fallen . This is it !â
â Three long decades â
The last time England reached a World Cup semi – final was at Italy 1990 , when 16 of the current squad were not even born.
It was closer in time to England â s 1966 World Cup triumph than today .
Margaret Thatcher was Britain â s prime minister . Phones were coin – operated , came in red boxes and people queued to use them .
The 1990 squad starred Gary Lineker , John Barnes , Chris Waddle and Paul Gascoigne . Peter Shilton , England â s goalkeeper then , is now 68 .
In Flat Iron Square , in scenes mirrored across the country , many had the England flag â Saint George â s red cross on white â painted on their cheeks , and while many men wore replica England shirts , many more stripped off in the baking 30 degrees Celsius ( 86 degrees Fahrenheit) heat.
An air horn went off to cheers at the first appearance of the teams in the tunnel and â God Save The Queen â was belted out in a full- throated rendition .
A tight first quarter quietened the mood but the place erupted in the 30 th minute when Harry Maguire headed in England â s opening goal with beer flying everywhere , gallons raining down as people roared in celebration .
At half – time , Camilla Mosley , 24 , from London , said : â If we win the World Cup, I will shower in beer for the rest of the year . â
â âEngland till I die !â â
She did not have to wait long for the next dousing when Dele Alli doubled England â s lead and the drinks went flying once again and people clambered on the tables as they bounced around in delight .
The goal triggered chants of â I â m England till I die â and as full- time approached , any nervousness evaporated and the party could really begin .
At the final whistle , people bounced erupted in wild jubilation once again, with beer , clothes, barriers and bodies tumbling to another deafening chorus of â Football â s coming home !â as flares went off and passing truck drivers honked their horns .
â I â ve never seen us so good . This is something different . The whole nation is going crazy . It â s chaos . I â ve never been so soaked in beer !â said south Londoner Tony, who turns 28 on Sunday .
Adam Clayton , 38 , wearing a replica of Gascoigne â s 19 shirt from the 1990 World Cup, recalled the long wait to let rip .
â Words can â t describe it . It â s insane . I think it is actually coming home ! I seriously believe so! Many a tear . We â ve had a nice run of the draw , which is right for England after the terrible times we â ve had , â the Arsenal fan said .
Public relations worker Tania Burnham , 27 , said : â The atmosphere is amazing . I â m covered in beer , but I â ll take it because it â s coming home . â
AFP .
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