England’s history-making footballers enjoyed a day playing video games, getting recovery massages and having a quiet dinner with friends and family as they prepared for a first World Cup semi-final for 28 years.
While much of the country enjoyed protracted and drink-fuelled celebrations following England’s quarter-final triumph over Sweden, in Russia the players’ focus turned to their next match against Croatia. Whatever happens, they will still be involved in the tournament until the final weekend, but that game on Wednesday will decide whether their final match will be a play-off for third place or a glittering final at Moscow’s spectacular Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday. Even the most optimistic observers would have struggled to predict that scenario at the start of this World Cup.
As the sun set over Samara’s Cosmos Arena on Saturday evening, England goalkeeper and man of the match, Jordan Pickford, joined the 3,000 travelling supporters singing a catalogue of classic football anthems.
Harry Maguire, the defender who scored his first international goal to open the scoring the 2-0 win over Sweden, joined in with chants of “football’s coming home”.
“This squad is really passionate, proud and honoured to wear the badge,” Maguire said. “We know the chants and we’re going along with them. The fans were the extra man. They were so loud, so credit to them.”
An hour after the final whistle the England manager, Gareth Southgate, wearing his trademark light blue shirt and waistcoat, stood on the edge of the penalty box conducting the fans in the stand behind the goal.
Two years ago, Maguire had travelled to France for Euro 2016 with a group of childhood friends, watching England play from the stands. Some of that same group were there to watch and after the match posed for pictures with Maguire and his family. The Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard was surprised by a visit from his mum and hugged her tightly while the England captain, Harry Kane, made a FaceTime call to his pregnant fiancee, Kate, who has remained at home in London with their young daughter.
None of those three players were even born when England last reached a World Cup semi-final at Italia 90. They have been told about Gazza’s tears, David Platt’s spectacular winning goal in the last 16 and Gary Lineker’s general brilliance in that tournament, but they certainly don’t remember it first-hand. They now have the opportunity to surpass what Sir Bobby Robson’s side had achieved by reaching a first World Cup final since 1966.
On their coach to the airport, the players’ friends and families loudly sang “football’s coming home”, but the mood was more subdued among the players themselves. On their chartered flight from Samara back to St Petersburg, the vibe was said to be joyful but the celebrations restrained and not as boisterous as after their dramatic penalty shootout victory over Colombia in the round of 16. They landed in St Petersburg just after 1am local time to the news that they would face Croatia in the semi-final in Moscow after their victory over hosts Russia, winning a nervy penalty shootout.
By the time England and their 58-strong entourage got back to their base in Repino, a sleepy town on the Gulf of Finland, it was pouring with rain, a contrast to the heat of Samara.
Southgate is keen that his team maintain the routine they have followed since arriving in Russia almost a month ago. Accordingly, they were given a day off on Sunday, save for some rest and recovery work at the gym inside their training centre in Zelenogorsk, a short drive from Repino. The FA made available a fleet of cars so players could visit their families who are staying at a hotel in St Petersburg, a 45-minute drive from Repino, while some families travelled to them.
“I think the recovery comes first then enjoy the day,” Southgate said. “The players have got their families. We are going to keep that little tradition we’ve had of them coming in and having dinner with us. I think all of those things have played their part, really.”
Consistency has been a key part of Southgate’s recipe for success and something his players have recognised. “Gareth straight away set his sight on the way that we play and wasn’t changing it,” Maguire said. “He had great belief in what’s best for us as a team to be a success in this tournament and up to now it’s proved to work really well, so I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Southgate, his team and millions of England fans will hope that continues beyond Wednesday.
