England Fans Dare to Dream of Euro 2020 Glory As Denmark Semi Looms

Established 1961 Sport WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 England fans dare to dream of Euro 2020 glory as Denmark semi looms LONDON: England is gripped by Euro British astronaut Tim Peake praised 2020 fervor as Gareth Southgate’s men the team for their performance in the prepare to take on Denmark for a place quarter-finals, saying: “Bring on the in the final of a major tournament for semi-finals!” One man has covered his the time in 55 years. England will walk house with 64 England flags, with dona- out to a wall of noise at Wembley tions going to charity. “We are on a tonight with the bulk of a crowd of main road and there are a lot of buses 60,000 willing them on, backed by mil- and work people going past and the lions of passionate supporters at home. response has been brilliant,” Lee Southgate’s side started the tourna- Johnson told the BBC. “We get a lot of ment slowly but have rapidly picked up people beeping and screaming ‘come on momentum, beating old foes Germany the boys’.” in the last 16 and hammering Ukraine 4-0 in the quarter-final in Rome. ‘Positive vibes’ Nearly 21 million people tuned into the Defender Harry Maguire said the Ukraine game, making it the most- players were aware of the mounting watched live TV event of the year, but excitement around the country as they that record is likely to be obliterated seek to reach a first European against Denmark. Championship final in England’s history. Southgate’s men are back at home “We see all the positive vibes and the tonight, and would play at Wembley videos going around. It’s a great atmos- again if they reach the final, as the pan- phere to be involved in and winning European event turns into a “home” football matches enables that,” he said. tournament for the Three Lions. Belief is “We’re on this journey together. Us, growing in a nation weary of the coron- players, staff, fans, we’re all in this avirus pandemic and hungry for success together. We all want the same thing, we that Southgate’s young team can deliver all want to win football matches and go glory for the first time since the 1966 as far as we can.” World Cup. Maguire admitted that home advan- Cars and homes are decked out tage would benefit England in the last with St George’s Cross flags and four, with bigger crowds allowed back BURTON-ON-TRENT: England’s defender Harry Maguire (left), forward Harry Kane (second left), midfielder Jack Grealish (second right) and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson into Wembley as coronavirus limits are goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (right) attend a training session at St George’s Park in Burton-on-Trent, central England, on Monday. — AFP has reportedly given the green light eased despite a surge in infections. The for pubs to remain open later on Manchester United player said the going to be electric, it’s going to be a Former England captain Alan knowing the whole nation is supporting Sunday to prepare for a potential atmosphere in the Germany game was great atmosphere. “We’re on this jour- Shearer, who reached the semi-finals at you on a stage as big as this,” he wrote England final. Johnson, who unveiled a one of the best he had experienced, ney together as players, staff and fans, Euro 96 on home soil, urged the current in his BBC column. “The team are back huge England flag on Downing Street with Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” and they’re right behind us. We’re really generation of players to drink in the on home soil now for the rest of the before the Ukraine game, tweeted: belted out by 40,000 delirious fans. feeling their support and their love and atmosphere. “You can’t escape the tournament and there is going to be one “We’re all behind you for the semi- “We’ve got even more fans in the it’s really pushing us, spurring us on to atmosphere, but then you don’t really heck of a din when they walk out at finals, bring it home.” stadium for the semi-final,” he said. “It’s do great things.” want to — it’s an incredible feeling, Wembley.” — AFP.

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