England is basking in unexpected World Cup success as coach Gareth Southgate is elevated to national hero status, cathedral organs belt out football anthems and the country prepares to shut down for Wednesday’s semi-final.
Southgate was not even supposed to be in Russia, but is about to lead England against Croatia with a place in Sunday’s final beckoning.
When the 47-year-old was appointed in November 2016 after Sam Allardyce left his post following a newspaper sting after just 67 days in charge, there was little fanfare.
England, basking in a long summer heat wave, reaching their first final since 1966 after the young side saw off Sweden 2-0 in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Almost 20 million people in Britain tuned in, not accounting for the many more ho watched in pubs and public viewing areas.
Streets were deserted as people crammed into sweaty pubs, gathered around big screens or stayed home to watch the national side reach the last four of a World Cup for the first time in 28 years.
Marks and Spencer, official tailors to the England team, declared Saturday #NationalWaistcoatDay in honour of Southgate and the team.
Southgate has even been promised a lifetime supply of waistcoats from a firm in London.
“I’m so impressed with Southgate’s performance, and with his choice of attire,” the founder Sir Plus, Henry Hales, told the London Evening Standard.
Exeter Cathedral, in southwest England, tweeted a video of an organist playing the unofficial team anthem “Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home)” in an tweet entitled “To Russia With Love”.
The song itself, released by the Lightning Seeds and comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel for Euro ’96, hosted in England, is storming up the charts again.
Fans have also adapted another song, “Whole Again” by Atomic Kitten.
“Looking back on when we first met, I cannot escape it, I cannot forget,” the fans chant.
“Southgate you’re the one. You still turn me on and football’s coming home again.”
