Brilliant England to face Croatia after beating Sweden to reach first World Cup semi-final for 28 years

England will face Croatia in their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 after beating Sweden 2-0 on another wonderful day for Gareth Southgate and his team in Russia.

This dream summer for England fans just carries on getting better, with goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli in Samara – not to mention some fine saves from Jordan Pickford – sending them into a last four match in Moscow against the Croats who beat hosts Russia 4-3 on penalties in Saturday’s second quarter-final.

England were very good value for their win, which delighted the nation, with millions of people celebrating in pubs, clubs and parks across the country.

Italia 90 hero Chris Waddle, who missed a penalty in the semi-final defeat to West Germany, was in tears on Radio 5 Live, where he was working on the game as a pundit.

A proud England boss Southgate said: “It was a game I was concerned about earlier in the week because of the emotional and physical energy we had to exert against Colombia.

“We knew the game would be stop start against Sweden. Defensively we dealt with most things well, and when we didn’t, our goalkeeper was outstanding.

“We created opportunities in attack even though the opposition made it difficult for us, and our football flowed well.”

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On the semi-final to come, Southgate added: “Managing expectations is going to be a bit difficult. We are privileged to be here and to be England manager is an honour.

“We are here because of the players as well of the staff. We have senior pros that haven’t played as much, but have carried on with smiles on their faces, and we are here because of them as well as the boys that have featured more.”

Southgate named the same team that saw off Colombia on penalties in the last 16.

It was a nervous start to the match, with both teams so clearly aware of the great prize at stake. Viktor Claesson fired a shot from 25 yards that flew well over the crossbar, but the first big chance of the game came for England after 18 minutes.

A fine run from Raheem Sterling to the edge of the Sweden penalty area set up Harry Kane, who drove a shot narrowly wide of the post.

Then came the breakthrough after half an hour, and it was the simplest of affairs. Ashley Young whipped in a delightful corner, and Leicester’s Maguire thumped a header low into the net.

England were clearly buoyed by the goal, and controlled the rest of the first half. Sterling found himself central to two key moments, firstly being too tentative when sent through clean on goal and allowing Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen to save. As it happened, VAR ruled the Manchester City man was offside anyway.

Just a minute later, Sterling was sent through again, courtesy of a lovely floated pass from Jordan Henderson. It was a golden chance, but after beating Olsen to the ball he delayed far too long when he should have set up Alli or Kane, and the chance was gone.

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Two minutes into the second half, England had good reason again to thank their goalkeeper Pickford. A powerful header from Marcus Berg was heading for the bottom corner, but Pickford flew to his left to produce a superb one-handed save.

Then came a truly joyous moment for England fans after 58 minutes, with Jesse Lingard’s fine pinpoint cross to the back post headed into the net with great aplomb by Alli.

England were clearly the better team, but Sweden still had their chances to get back into the match, and Pickford produced two more fine saves. First, he saved one-handed from a low Claesson effort from close range.

Then, when Berg turned and fired in a powerful shot, the Everton goalkeeper was again equal to the task, tipping the ball over the crossbar.

These were nervous moments, but as the clock wound down, the England fans that had made the long trip to Samara began to celebrate.

Speaking straight after the match, Kane said: “It was a difficult game. Sweden made it tough, we’re buzzing. I thought we were fantastic.

“We know there is a big game ahead with the semi-final but we are feeling good and we’re confident. We just have to go again. We are enjoying it and we’ve got keep doing what we are doing and make the country proud.”

Meanwhile, Maguire said: “We felt like we could dominate the ball today. We knew what would hurt them today, we knew set pieces was a big thing.The deliveries have been brilliant and we have managed to get our heads on them.

“Going into a World Cup semi final, it doesn’t get much better than that. Credit to the staff and players.”

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The match was attracting enormous interest in Britain, with the TV audience predicted to be even bigger than the 24 million that tuned in for the dramatic penalties win over Colombia in the last 16.

There were wild scenes of celebration across the nation, with many having never seen England reach such an advanced stage of the sport’s greatest event.

Now for an even bigger match on Wednesday night. Memories flooding back for many of Italia 90.

The nation really will come to a total standstill for that one.

KEY OPTA STATS

• England have qualified for their third World Cup semi-final, also reaching that stage in 1966 and 1990.

• Sweden have lost three of their last four matches against England (W1), since a run of 12 consecutive matches without defeat against them between 1979 and 2006.

• This was England’s first win in a knockout match in a major tournament since beating Ecuador in the Last 16 at the 2006 World Cup.

• Six of England’s last 11 goals against Sweden have been scored via headers, all from different players (Sol Campbell, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Andy Carroll, Harry Maguire and Dele Alli).

• England – who scored with both shots on target in this match – have found the net with 10 of their last 13 shots on target at the 2018 World Cup.

• England have scored 11 goals in a World Cup tournament for only the second time, also doing so in their victorious year of 1966.

• Dele Alli is the second youngest player to score for England at the World Cup (22y 87d), behind only Michael Owen (18y 190d against Romania in 1998).

• Harry Maguire scored his first goal for England, and in doing so became the first player to score their first England goal in a World Cup knockout match since Rio Ferdinand in 2002 against Denmark.

• Jordan Pickford made three saves in this match and kept a clean sheet, making him the youngest England goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup match (24y 122d).

• England have scored eight goals via set pieces at the 2018 World Cup, the most by a team at a World Cup tournament since Portugal in 1966 (also eight).