Jubilant England supporters partied in streets after the Three Lions crushed Ukraine 4-0 to set up a semi-final showdown with Denmark at Euro 2020.
Undefeated England have qualified for their first European Championship semi-final for 25 years thanks to two goals by captain Harry Kane and one each by Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson.
Supporters didn't have to wait long to celebrate, as Kane's goal in the fourth minute gave his heavily favoured side a dream start in their quarter-final in Rome.
Every goal sent fans into a frenzy at venues such as Trafalgar Square in central London, Boxpark in Croydon and Manchester's EventCity, as they threw cups of beer into the air, hugged, climbed on top of tables and ripped off their shirts.
As the match drew to a close, police urged revellers not to head into central London to celebrate as crowds in Leicester Square chanted "it's coming home" and parties erupted out elsewhere.
Trevor Harris, 40, from Watford, said: “It’s coming home. You can hear everyone chanting it. England is England and it’s about time we actually started playing.”
Keira Starr, 19, added: “I thought we’d lose, but now I actually think we’ll be in the final.”
The growing crowd in Leicester Square cheered, threw beer and chanted while wrapped in England flags.
Strangers were hugging in the streets and running up and down the road. In the distance, cars honked horns along to people dancing and clapping in the streets – while police quietly patrol the square.
Dozens of fans gathered near King George’s statue in Pall Mall, where they were cheering, chanting and singing about manager Gareth Southgate and Jack Grealish.
One person found a traffic cone and was using it as drum, and buses were beeping along to the England chant as they drove past.
Fans climbed on top of tables and ignored calls from security to sit down as they sang “Please don’t take me home” repeatedly and threw cups of beer over each other.
Organisers threatened to cut the feed to the match if they refused to sit down. However the fans continued to dance and sing.
Near the end of the match, the Met Police tweeted: "We are aware of a large group of fans who have congregated near Trafalgar Square.
"Officers are in the area and are monitoring the situation. We'd ask fans to stay safe and closer to home following the match. Please do not head into central London."
Heavy rain didn't dampen the spirits of supporters who went wild at an outdoor fan zone at EventCity in Manchester, where one fan stripped down to his St George's Cross-themed underwear.
The Duke of Cambridge was among those expressing excitement for what lies ahead, with a post on Twitter saying: “Another top team performance and clean sheet from @England tonight. #ThreeLions. Well played to Ukraine. Can’t wait for Wednesdays semi final!”
About 2,500 England fans were expected to attend the match at the Stadio Olimpico in Italy's capital after UK-based supporters were warned not to bother showing up due to the Covid situation in Britain.
Group D winners England, ranked fifth in the world, will face 10th-ranked Denmark in a semi-final at Wembley Stadium in London on Wednesday night. The other semi-final features Italy and Spain.
The UK government is allowing 60,000 fans to attend each semi-final - one on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday - and the final on July 11, all at Wembley.
Mo Mason-Jones, 24, a visual merchandiser, told how she travelled down to Trafalgar Square from Newcastle with her mother, Ellie Bond, 55, a doctor who works in a hospice, to watch Saturday night's quarter-final.
Both of the women are wearing red England shirts and have painted England flags on their faces.
Ms Mason-Jones said: “The atmosphere has been incredible with all the singing. It’s coming home.
"We managed to get tickets but my dad and my brother didn’t make it, so they’re at home watching it on TV and we’re here. We can’t believe it.
“My mum was really worried about all the Covid things but being here it’s been so well done and it’s so well organised.”
Fans in Trafalgar Square were creative with their chants during the first half of the game.
They sang “If you love England, stand up” repeatedly and heckled one member of security staff who was not wearing a face mask. “Where’s your mask? Where’s your mask?” they chanted at her.
After England's second and third goals, Londoner Charles Khalaf, 19, who was wrapped in an England flag in Leicester Square, said: “For the first time ever, I’m actually enjoying watching England because their playing is good. The position is good and we’re controlling the game.
“Kane is awesome. He might have missed the first few games but he’s our captain. It’s coming home.”
After seeing off Germany in the Round of 16 last Tuesday, England fans were confident heading into the showdown with underdogs Ukraine, a team ranked 24th in the world.
Rachel Harvey, 27, who watched the match in Trafalgar Square, said: “I think England are going to win. I reckon it’s going to be 2-1 to England.
“I feel like it’s a great thing to watch the game here in Trafalgar Square. The fact that we’re doing this feels like life is getting back to normal.”
When asked if he was nervous, he said: “Not as much as Tuesday, I think we should be able to do it – think of it as two friendlies before the final.”
Earlier, fans who made the journey to Rome predicted victory as they gathered at the Italian capital's tourist attractions, bars and outside the stadium.
Inside the Stadio Olimpico, a fan who spoke to the Mirror didn't want to give his name or be photographed because he feared his wife would find out he was at the game.
The man said: "My missus doesn’t even know I’m here. She thinks I’m out with my mate in Palma for the night. I fly back tomorrow."
Six English ski instructors, who arrived just hours before the match to cheer on England, were stopped more than 400 miles away at the Switzerland/Italy border to check their paperwork was ok.
Police only let them drive on when proved they had not come from England and that their tickets were valid.
The six - Matt Butler, 25, from Ripon, North Yorkshire, Thomas Paton, 39, of Bunbury, Cheshire, Oli Partrick, 29, from Raunds, Northants, Eliott Gates, 27, from Congleton, Cheshire, Charlotte Vantreen, 33, from Exeter, Devon, and Chloe Allen, 26, from Sutton, Surrey - all work in the Swiss resort of Nendaz.
Chloe told the Mirror: “We are so excited. We are really looking forward to cheering the team on."
Matt said: “We can't believe we were stopped so far away – they were that strict.”
England fans travelled from across continental Europe and from as far away as the US and Dubai to attend the game.
There was a joyous atmosphere at Piazza del Popolo, where fans wearing England shirts kicked a football around and displayed flags.
Luke Curner, originally from Folkestone, Kent, was able to avoid isolation as he travelled to Rome from Helmstedt, Germany, where he lives with his wife and children.
The 36-year-old bought tickets for the match in 2019 as it falls on his birthday weekend.
He said: "I feel very privileged to be here, I'm usually on the wrong end of these kind of situations."
UK-based England fans were urged not to travel to Rome.
Italy, which remains on the UK government's amber list, imposed stricter quarantine measures on June 21, forcing anyone arriving from Britain to self-isolate for five days.
Supporters travelling from the UK were warned they would be barred from the stadium even if they had a ticket.
Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Association, admitted fans had felt disappointed after being told those travelling from the UK would be barred entry into the stadium.
Back in England, pubs, bars and outdoor fan zones began filling up hours before the match as rain was forecast for some places.
In central London, Billy Cuming, and Billy Gibson, both 19, said they had come to Trafalgar Square for the atmosphere.
Neither had tickets to the fan zone ahead of the Euro 2020 clash but said they were there “to support the England”.
Bradley Hayden, 27, from Barnes in London, said he had come down to “be part of the atmospheric” despite not having a ticket to the fan zone.
England’s 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst sent a message of encouragement to the England team ahead of their Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine.
“Come on England. You can do it. Good luck tonight,” he tweeted.
Sir Geoff scored a hat-trick at Wembley in the 1966 World Cup final to seal England’s first and only major trophy.
His well wishes must have worked because England now have the chance to reach their first final since that historic win.
