England fans told 'get there if you can' for quarter-final as players celebrate nail-biter

Jubilant England players declared “we’re not coming home” today as the Three Lions set up a World Cup quarter-final with Sweden after a dramatic night in Moscow.

A nail-biting 4-3 penalty shoot-out against Colombia that had the country holding its breath ended with Eric Dier propelling England to the Sweden showdown in Samara on Saturday.

The epic match in Moscow was watched on ITV by a peak official audience of 23.8 million, the biggest since the 2012 Olympics, representing an 80 per cent share of all TV viewers last night. The real figure will be even higher with pubs and bars across the country packed with fans gripped by World Cup fever.

England’s heroes took to social media to celebrate ending the team’s World Cup spot-kick curse after three crushing eliminations in shootouts since 1990.

England soccer fans celebrate their team scoring the opening goal as they watch the FIFA World Cup 2018 Round of 16 match between England and Colombia
EPA

Midfielder Jesse Lingard summed up the ecstatic mood of the squad with a tweeted picture of himself holding a phone to his ear and the caption: “No mum, I’m not coming home.”

Captain, man of the match and penalty hero Harry Kane said simply: “What.A.Feeling”, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who pulled off a crucial shootout save, tweeted: “What an unbelievable night. Back to work we go to get ready for Saturday.”

Raheem Sterling during the match on Tuesday
REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Congratulations for the Three Lions and their manager Gareth Southgate poured in after the gruelling encounter, which was left deadlocked at 1-1 after extra time.

The Duke of Cambridge, who is a keen football fan, wrote on the Kensington Palace Twitter account: “I couldn’t be prouder of England, a victory in a penalty shootout!

England fans celebrated in pubs and bars across the UK
EPA

“You have well and truly earned your place in the final eight of the World Cup and you should know the whole country is right behind you for Saturday!”

He added: “Come on England!” and signed the tweet off with a W. Fans in Moscow now face a long journey to the city of Samara, 650 miles east of the Russian capital, for the chance to secure a place in the semi-finals for the first time since Italia 90.

Fewer England fans have travelled than to previous tournaments and have been significantly outnumbered by opposing supporters at some games. Sports minister Tracey Crouch said: “I’m sure the team would very much welcome the support of travelling fans but I’d encourage all fans to make sure they get their tickets from official outlets and continue to take note of the FCO travel advice.”

The Foreign Office has told supporters travelling to Russia they will need to have a Fan ID, or a visa valid for the duration of their entire trip as well as a match ticket to get into the game.

Officials also stressed there was no change in the decision not to send politicians or members of the royal family to games, taken in the wake of the Salisbury nerve agent attack, even if England reach the final.

The final whistle triggered scenes of jubilation on the streets of London with traffic on some of the capital’s busiest routes forced to halt as thousands of revellers poured out of pubs and bars.

In Camden, a group of boisterous fans invaded a number 214 bus and turned it into a “party bus”. One man clambered onto the roof of a double-decker 31 service in celebration after it became stranded in the sea of chanting supporters. In north-east London, more than 200 fans packed in to watch the game at the Essex House bar in Chingford, where Harry Kane grew up.

It was estimated that work “no shows” from hungover supporters could cost the economy up to £500 million in lost output.

England fans go wild after victory over Colombia - In pictures

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In Moscow’s Spartak stadium England players celebrated with jubilant fans long after the match, in which Kane’s 57th-minute penalty was followed by an equaliser from Colombia’s Yerry Mina in the final seconds of stoppage time.

Kane and his team came back out onto the pitch and took selfies with England supporters, who stayed singing in their stands for more than an hour after the game. Hundreds then flocked to Nikolskaya Street, near Red Square and the Kremlin, which was illuminated by thousands of fairy lights. Tim Rodgers, 25, a data manager from Sheffield, said: “After the Colombia goal I almost lost faith. I was feeling sick.

“This is the best chance England have had to win a World Cup in my lifetime.”

Gareth Southgate was emotional, having personally missed in a penalty shootout in Euro 96
EPA

Joe Green, 24, a sports and leisure manager, and his brother Tom, 25, an engineer, both from Norfolk, said the stadium erupted when Eric Dier’s penalty hit the net. Joe said: “England fans were outnumbered in the ground but we sang all the way through. My voice is hurting. Afterwards we stayed in the ground swinging our shirts and singing even more. It was fantastic and the World Cup is coming home.”

Sheyi Omotayo, 23, a from Camden, said: “I came out 16 days ago and it’s been the best time of my life. Being here tonight and partying with the fans feels like we are all together linked by a real passion for the team.”

Additional reporting by Daniel O’Mahony, Owen Sheppard and Isobel Frodsham

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