We may be out but Russia will herald a new dawn for us, pledge England heroes

World Cup dream over: A distraught England fan
Jeremy Selwyn

England’s football heroes today pledged that their stirring World Cup adventure in Russia will be just the start of a new era of success for the team.

The Three Lions squad and manager Gareth Southgate were praised for restoring pride to the England shirt and rousing the nation despite last night’s heartbreaking semi-final defeat at the hands of Croatia in Moscow.

The young and inexperienced team hugely exceeded expectations by getting to the penultimate stage of the tournament for the first time in 28 years.

Striker Marcus Rashford, 20, who came on as a substitute, tweeted in the early hours as the players returned to their base camp at Repino: “Really tough right now but this team’s special.. we’ll be back. Hopefully this is the start of the future.”

He paid tribute to boss Southgate today: “You’ve brought belief and the love of football back. Thank you boss from the whole nation.”

Striker Marcus Rashford posted online: “Really tough right now but this team’s special.. we’ll be back.
AP Photo/Petr David Josek

Midfielder Roben Loftus-Cheek added: “Want to thank everyone for the immense support in Russia and back home. To see our country come together with massive belief, was an amazing feeling for us. Wasn’t meant to be but we are not finished for sure, the future is bright.” The match was watched by a peak of almost 27 million people on TV — the biggest television audience of the year and the most-watched since the London Olympic Opening Ceremony in 2012.

Broadcaster ITV said today the last minute was watched by 26.6 million fans. On average, 24.3 million viewers — an 81 per cent share — tuned in.

Bleary-eyed England fans land back at Heathrow

Weary England fans arrived back at Heathrow from Moscow today declaring “the boys did us proud” despite their  semi-final heartbreak. 

Some were draped in flags while others wore their England shirts and tipped the current crop of players for future glory. 

Many were bleary-eyed after staying up all night but they remained upbeat. 

Sam Pemberton, 43, a tech worker from Reading, was met at the airport by his 11-year-old son Archie and wife Sue.

He said: “We gave the team a massive cheer after the game. I am really proud of them — they can hold their heads high. This is the fifth World Cup I have been to and by far this is best so far. The future is bright for this crop of England players.”

Jack Bovey, 27, an airline worker, said: “We played well. I think that’s definitely something to build on in the future. It’s all positive.” 

Phil Hernon, 59, the CEO of a City insurance company, said: “We played well, Croatia probably deserved to win but we can be proud of the performance. I am glad I flew over to Russia.”

David Plumtree, 49, who works in property services, said: “The team has reconnected with the people, which is great. The atmosphere over there was wonderful and we did fantastically.”

In South Kensington last night Croatian fans piled into the Hoop and Toy pub where they were joined by a handful of Scotland supporters cheering on England’s rivals. 

Fans were initially subdued as Kieran Trippier scored within five minutes, but chants of “Ja te volim Hrvatska”  (I love you Croatia) broke out when Ivan Perisic equalised in the second half. Mario Mandzukic’s winner sparked cries of, “Hrvatska su prvaci sveta”, (Croatia are the champions of the world). Supporter Anita Hola, 31, told the Standard: “I’m absolutely ecstatic. Croatia were phenomenal.”

The viewing figures do not include the millions more who watched the games in pubs and on big screens. Theresa May led tributes to the team saying the “whole country is proud of England”, and declared: “You gave it your all.”

England fans return to Heathrow after following the team's World Cup efforts in Russia

Among calls for Southgate to be awarded a knighthood for his leadership of the squad was former Labour leader Ed Miliband, who tweeted: “So proud of this team, their heart, their teamwork, their decency. Losing is shit but nothing can or should take that away. And Gareth still deserves the knighthood.” The ugly scenes which followed, and marred, England’s quarter-final win over Sweden were not repeated after the Croatia defeat. Police were hoping to avoid a second serving of the alcohol-fuelled offending at the weekend when over-excited fans clambered over cars, buses and emergency vehicles.

Harry Kane didn't manage to get on the score sheet against Croatia
Getty Images

But last night passed more peacefully with police saying the majority of fans left pubs and parks “with their heads held high and without issue”.

Rebekah Vardy hugs Jamie Vardy after the game
Jeremy Selwyn

The Met’s football unit said there were a “small number of incidents and arrests” and thanked people for “making our job tonight easier”.

Thousands of Londoners who watched on big screens at the British Summertime arena in Hyde Park walked home dejected, but spoke of their pride in England’s World Cup run. Rebecca Middleton, 26, an accountant from Whitechapel, said: “The crowd here was good. It’s pretty upsetting now, but I think there’s hope for the future. I’m proud of the boys, they’ve matched the weather.”

In Moscow about 10,000 England fans filed away from the Luzhniki Stadium to board flights home just hours after the final whistle. A small number lingered in the bars around Red Square. Adam Taylor, 31, who works in private equity and lives in Brixton, said: “The players have reconnected with the country and reinvigorated the national game and that is great news.”

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