#Itscominghome. The Three Lions of England continued their slow but sure march towards their first world cup final in decades with a steely 2-0 win over Sweden.
Playing their first quarter final game since 2002, England relied on their strengths – a near impenetrable defence and aerial advantage – to dispatch the vastly over achieving Swedes.
Harry Maguire and Dele Alli both buried headed goals to carry England into the semis and spark wild hopes that a first world cup trophy since 1966 would be heading back to the home of football.
Sweden had gone past Italy in qualifying, taken Germany to the brink and beaten a much more fancied Switzerland side but the Three Lions proved a bridge too far as Gareth Southgate’s youthful side continued their remarkable run.
A game of two teams who utilize their aerial power to devastating effect, it was England who won out when Harry Maguire scored on the half hour mark.
He rose highest to meet an Ashley Young cross from the right to put England ahead.
England, who had hitherto been controlling the game, kept up their dominance and scored in the second half from another header.
This time, it was Dele Alli who pushed a towering header past the Swedish goalie after Jesse Lingard’s cross.
Sweden got into the game after going two behind, but their best efforts could not beat Jordan Pickford, who was in the form of his life to keep England’s lead intact.
England thus end their long World Cup drought, reaching the semi finals for the first time since 1990 – a drought so long even manager Gareth Southgate had not won his first England cap at that time.
England await the winner of tonight’s other quarter final clash between hosts Russia and Croatia, who they would play in Wednesday’s semi finals.