'Unthinkable': England in raptures over Euro 2020 masterclass
England sent the nation into pandemonium overnight after putting in their best display yet to defeat Ukraine 4-0 at Euro 2020.
Captain Harry Kane scored twice as England swept past Ukraine in their quarter-final on Saturday then immediately switched his team's thoughts to the job ahead, determined to keep a lid on rapidly-rising expectation.
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It was the only match that England had to play away from Wembley Stadium and it was the team's most dominant performance of the tournament.
Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson also scored as England kept a clean sheet for the fifth straight match.
Just like scenes after England defeated Germany in Round of 16 at Wembley, fans gathered in bars, pubs and outdoor areas in scenes reminiscent of time before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite England up against an in-form and inspired Denmark outfit in the semi-final, fans couldn't help but imagine what could be with the Three Lions now firm-favourites to reach the final.
Wired as. 🤣
Crazy really, from my Mom's front room aged 11 not being able to sleep after we beat France in 1982 to tonight, 40 years on the exact same feeling that @England brings out.
Football, like nothing on earth.
💉💉💉💉💉💉💉💉💉— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) July 4, 2021
What is going on? 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Not used to England playing so well in a major tournament.
This is MADNESS.
Lovely madness #ENG #EURO2020— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) July 3, 2021
One of the best performances for a LONG time! Such confidence. #ThreeLions
— Will Torrent (@willtorrent) July 3, 2021
Wow, really is the perfect night for England
- finally cut loose
- Kane cuts loose
- Shaw rips it up
- another clean sheet (so far)
- Henderson's first international goal
- first set-piece goal, then a second— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) July 3, 2021
🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) July 3, 2021
Oioioioiiiiiiiii@HarryMaguire93
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) July 3, 2021
Massive massive game Wednesday now if we win that we really start to believe the unthinkable... common @England 🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
— Danny Mitch (@Danmitchell1995) July 3, 2021
England are Italy/Spain away from the unthinkable. Its coming home
— Denis (@mcfcdenis_) July 3, 2021
England face Denmark at Euro 2020
England now face Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday.
The Danes, who have won admiration and developed into a surprise contender after their tournament began with midfielder Christian Eriksen suffering cardiac arrest on the field, advanced by beating the Czech Republic 2-1 in their quarter-final in Baku.
Italy will face Spain in the other semi-final match on Tuesday, with the final next weekend also to be played at Wembley.
The last time England made it to the last four of the European Championship was in 1996. But the bigger goal at this point is to duplicate the success of the 1966 England team who won the World Cup on home soil.
"I've said it all along it's all about peaking for the right time," Kane said.
"We are on the right track."
"To perform like we did was top-drawer - another clean sheet, four goals, it was the perfect night for us.
"We don't get carried away...we've got to keep working hard and recover well.
"We haven't done nothing yet. We've got a semi-final at Wembley. ... What a moment for us as a team, as a nation. It's there for us, it's an opportunity for us. We have to grab it with both hands."
with AAP
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