ROMA (VG) (Ukraina – England 0–4) It’s coming home from Rome.
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It was their only European Championship match outside Wembley this summer. And England passed the Italian test with flying colors.
The English home crowd has called for more festive football from Gareth Southgate’s men during the championship, and perhaps it was a quick trip abroad that was needed to give England a more adventurous feel.
Against a hopeless Ukrainian team, there was at least no handshake to be traced:
Harry Kane floated on the wave of success after finishing the goal drought in the quarterfinals against Germany. The Tottenham star spent just four minutes this time, after a fiery play by Raheem Sterling, before stabbing his second for the evening after a post from Luke Shaw.
– It is a big day for English football, says the two-goal scorer.
Meanwhile, Harry Maguire had also benefited from Shaw’s precise left foot and nodded in a goal «made in Manchester United».
– It’s a brilliant feeling. Reaching the semifinals of two major tournaments in a row is a great achievement. I do not want to be a killer of joy, but we want to go further than we did in the World Cup, says Maguire and aims for the semi-final exit about Croatia in Russia three years ago.
Substitute Jordan Henderson got the honor of coming in and heading in the 4-0 goal – his first national team goal in match number 62. He roared as if he had decided the match; “The three lions” travel home to England as scrub-hungry predators.
– Something special is about to happen. The tournament started slowly, but there is improvement from match to match. My head says I have to calm down, but my heart is torn. For one night, says former England striker Alan Shearer on the BBC.
Denmark is waiting in the semifinals at Wembley. The final against Spain or Italy is played in the same place.
With an 8-0 goal difference after five European Championship matches and a sprint on their own turf, England can no longer hide.
The ultimate ambition that “no one” in England dares to talk about, is now a goal that is moving ever closer: the nation’s first football trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
The final 55 years ago was also the last time they scored four goals in a knockout match in a championship.
The case is being updated!
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