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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| World Cup 2018: England fans delight at reaching semi-finals | World Cup 2018: England fans delight at reaching semi-finals |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| The country is celebrating after England beat Sweden 2-0 to win a place in the World Cup semi-finals. | The country is celebrating after England beat Sweden 2-0 to win a place in the World Cup semi-finals. |
| Pubs were packed, barbecues were burning and towns were tense as millions watched the game. | Pubs were packed, barbecues were burning and towns were tense as millions watched the game. |
| With the country basking in a heatwave, hundreds of thousands of fans watched on big screens at events up and down the country. | With the country basking in a heatwave, hundreds of thousands of fans watched on big screens at events up and down the country. |
| Our reporters have been out and about to capture a nation gripped by World Cup fever. | Our reporters have been out and about to capture a nation gripped by World Cup fever. |
| Harry Maguire's opening goal sent them bonkers on Brighton beach. | Harry Maguire's opening goal sent them bonkers on Brighton beach. |
| And they went batty in Bristol... | And they went batty in Bristol... |
| There was more of the same in Croydon where hundreds packed in the Boxpark. | There was more of the same in Croydon where hundreds packed in the Boxpark. |
| Meanwhile, in Stockport..... | Meanwhile, in Stockport..... |
| Down the road in Manchester, these two tried their best to get everyone to join in... | Down the road in Manchester, these two tried their best to get everyone to join in... |
| Bride and groom Harriot Bland and Karl McNally, from Sheffield, had to change their wedding plans because Harriot didn't want the match "to ruin" her big day. | Bride and groom Harriot Bland and Karl McNally, from Sheffield, had to change their wedding plans because Harriot didn't want the match "to ruin" her big day. |
| A TV screen was set up for the guests and she left the speeches, cake cutting and first dance until after the game - she was thankful it didn't go into extra time. | A TV screen was set up for the guests and she left the speeches, cake cutting and first dance until after the game - she was thankful it didn't go into extra time. |
| When it was all done there was one very happy bridegroom. He said: "It's the best thing ever - England scoring a goal on my wedding day in the World Cup quarter-final and winning. Amazing." | When it was all done there was one very happy bridegroom. He said: "It's the best thing ever - England scoring a goal on my wedding day in the World Cup quarter-final and winning. Amazing." |
| At another wedding, there was an unusual means of keeping the guests updated in church. | At another wedding, there was an unusual means of keeping the guests updated in church. |
| There was huge relief when Dele Alli added a second to give England a two-goal cushion. | |
| And it set them off in Norfolk too. | And it set them off in Norfolk too. |
| But England's second stunned the ex-pat Swedes in west London. | But England's second stunned the ex-pat Swedes in west London. |
| The goal also went down well at the General Synod, where the Bishop of Willesden was heard to shout out "Close him down!" | The goal also went down well at the General Synod, where the Bishop of Willesden was heard to shout out "Close him down!" |
| Where better to watch the game than at the local of England's goal hero Harry Maguire? | Where better to watch the game than at the local of England's goal hero Harry Maguire? |
| What are England fans singing? | What are England fans singing? |
| The football streets of England | The football streets of England |
| Mapping England's World Cup squad | Mapping England's World Cup squad |
| But it wasn't such fun for these Swedes. | But it wasn't such fun for these Swedes. |
| At the final whistle there were celebrations in Birmingham (did I just see the Queen?) | At the final whistle there were celebrations in Birmingham (did I just see the Queen?) |
| Families and friends shared in the joy of England reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in almost 30 years. Mark Austin, from Shrewsbury, said: "I remember 1990 well and this is on a par, maybe better than that; this time feels different. | Families and friends shared in the joy of England reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in almost 30 years. Mark Austin, from Shrewsbury, said: "I remember 1990 well and this is on a par, maybe better than that; this time feels different. |
| "This is a once-in-a-generation thing. I've told my children they'll remember this for the rest of their lives." | "This is a once-in-a-generation thing. I've told my children they'll remember this for the rest of their lives." |
| The growing sense of optimism was shared by Maxime Rowe, from London, who said: "I've waited a lifetime for this... they're a young team and they've proved their worth already so good luck, their future's going to look amazing." | The growing sense of optimism was shared by Maxime Rowe, from London, who said: "I've waited a lifetime for this... they're a young team and they've proved their worth already so good luck, their future's going to look amazing." |
| Amanda Eddridge, from Hassocks in Sussex added: "It's been a long time coming. We've been waiting for it to go wrong but I believe in them. They're going to do it!" | Amanda Eddridge, from Hassocks in Sussex added: "It's been a long time coming. We've been waiting for it to go wrong but I believe in them. They're going to do it!" |
| There was even a royal seal of approval at the result as the Duke of Cambridge tweeted his appreciation. | There was even a royal seal of approval at the result as the Duke of Cambridge tweeted his appreciation. |
| There was also this magnanimous message from the Swedish Ambassador to the UK. | There was also this magnanimous message from the Swedish Ambassador to the UK. |
| After all the tension, stress and excitement, how about a calming recital of Three Lions to bring us all back down to earth? | After all the tension, stress and excitement, how about a calming recital of Three Lions to bring us all back down to earth? |