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Thousands of elated football fans hurled half-drunk beers into the air and embraced strangers in celebration as England secured a long-awaited victory over Germany tonight.
Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane led the Three Lions to a 2-0 win over Germany in a tense clash at Wembley for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, with fans across England now daring to dream that victory may be in sight.
Waves of rapturous applause filled the stadium at the goals which broke a tense 0-0 first half deadlock – with around 45,000 delighted fans gathered to watch in person.
And the elation spilled into streets and pub gardens across England, with fans throwing half-drunk beers into the air and proudly waving the St George’s flag when victory appeared to be in reach.
Photographs from Croydon in south London capture hundreds of football fans jumping to their feet as England secured its first major victory over Germany since the 1966 World Cup final.
Those in Birmingham and Manchester embraced their friends and climbed on top of tables after Gareth Southgate’s men secured England a place in the Euro 2020 quarter finals.
As excited fans in Newcastle took to the Times Square with Three Lions flags and hundreds gathered outside Wembley to celebrate the win, typically busy streets across England were deserted.
There wasn’t a car in sight on Westminster Bridge in London or the A14 near Cambridge as the match began at 5pm today – what would typically be a bustling rush hour for commuters heading home.
Many also celebrated England’s victory from the comfort of their own homes, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson photographed gesturing in elation at a TV set up outside Downing Street.
England fan celebrate in Boxpark, Croydon after England’s Harry Kane scored their second goal
England fans in Manchester react after Raheem Sterling scored the first goal in UEFA European Championship game against Germany
England fans are seen cheering in rainy Trafalgar Square Fan Zone in London they celebrated their side’s win in the Euro 2020 match against Germany
England fans celebrate victory following the UEFA Euro 2020 round of 16 match between England and Germany at the 4TheFans fan zone outside Wembley Stadium
England fans celebrate victory after watching the UEFA Euro 2020 round of 16 match between England and Germany at Boxpark in Croydon, London
Many also celebrated England’s victory from the comfort of their own homes, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson (above) photographed gesturing in elation at a TV set up outside Downing Street during the match
England are set to play either Sweden or Ukraine in the Euro 2020 quarter-final in Rome on Saturday – with the team fancying their chances against both foreign squads.
While the number of fans at Wembley tonight was still just over half of its normal 90,000 capacity, it marked the biggest crowd at an event seen since the pandemic began last year.
Among the spectators were avid football fan Prince William, his wife Kate and their son Prince George, who sat in a box along with football legend David Beckham and pop star Ed Sheeran.
The group watched as the match kicked off to a nail-biting start, with West Ham player Declan Rice handed a yellow card in the first ten minutes.
And, just seconds before the half time whistle was blown, England captain Harry Kane had the ball robbed from him with the Germany goal wide open after a brilliant run by Raheem Sterling.
England football fans celebrate the opening goal in the England vs Germany game at the Luna Springs in Digbeth, Birmingham
England fans celebrate during the UEFA Euro 2020 round of 16 match between England and Germany at the 4TheFans fan park in Manchester
In fan zones across the country – including in Manchester, Birmingham and London – overjoyed supporters were seen screaming as they celebrated
Fans watch the UEFA Euro 2020 round of 16 match between England and Germany at the Vinegar Yard pub in London
Harry Kane of England celebrates with Harry Maguire and team mates after scoring their side’s second goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship today
Prince George watched as England crushed Germany 2-0 at his first international football match – as Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane put the Three Lions into the Euro quarters finals
Prince George was seen watching the match with his avid football fan father Prince William, with the pair wearing matching suits and FA ties. The Duke of Cambridge dotingly explained every twist and turn of the nail-biting match to his son, beamed from their box
The second half saw Germany step up their play, but they still proved no match for Gareth’s Southgate’s side – with a fantastic save by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from Chelsea’s Kai Havertz.
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers when fan-favourite Jack Grealish replaced Bukayo Saka in the 68th minute, in a moved hoped to spark England’s side into their first goal.
And the move proved a huge success. Kane came to life as he found Grealish who fed Luke Shaw on the left. His low ball into the box was slotted home by Sterling.
Earlier, Neuer’s team joined England players in taking the knee before today’s fixture in a stand against racism.
The protest act has been mired in controversy throughout the tournament, with the FA fearing unhappy crowds would boo players. But any discontent from spectators was drowned out by loud cheering from both sides.
As thousands celebrated the victory, the roads stood eerily still following England’s first victory over the national team since an international friendly on March 26, 2016
There wasn’t a car in sight on Westminster Bridge in London (above) or the A14 near Cambridge as the match began at 5pm today – what would typically be a bustling rush hour for commuters heading home
England fans celebrate at Newcastle’s Times Square after watching the Three Lions defeat Germany 2-0 to progress to the Euro 2020 quarter finals
Supporters celebrate the second England goal as England play Germany for a place in the Euro 2020 Quarter Finals at the 4TheFans Fan Park at Event City in Manchester
But the teams’ national anthems were a different story, with boos ringing out from the England-heavy crowd as Germany’s anthem played.
Both England captain Kane and his German counterpart Neuer are wearing rainbow armbands in support of Pride month during tonight’s showdown.
While West Ham player Declan Rice given a yellow card in the first ten minutes, Sterling quickly raised England fans’ hopes with an early long-range shot that tested German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Hopes soared even further as Germany’s Matthias Ginter was booked for bringing down Luke Shaw on the German right flank.
But as the match approached the 30 minute mark, Harry Maguire missed a straightforward header, sending pulses racing in the iconic stadium. And Pickford was forced to act quickly to stop an effort by Chelsea’s Timo Werner.
