Jubilant football fans are celebrating across England today after the national team's historic Euro 2020 victory against Germany.
Goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane secured a 2-0 win, propelling Gareth Southgate's men into the quarter finals and giving the country something to smile about in difficult times.
The team won at a half-full Wembley Stadium, with pubs across the country packed with supporters witnessing the Three Lions squad march on.
In a rare moment of political harmony, both Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer had called on employers to let workers finish early to watch the game.
The Met Police confirmed after the game that three people had been arrested at Wembley Stadium - one man on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault, and two men suspected of fraud by false representation.
The force later said officers were aware of large crowds in Leicester Square, with cordons set up encouraging fans to disperse.
Thousands downed tools across the country and filled pubs hours before kick-off, with both goals met with excited scenes from lovers of the beautiful game.
Beer went flying as the ball hit the back of the net, and there were ecstatic scenes on the final whistle.
Pubs and bars were expecting a bumper evening as fans packed around tables and filled beer gardens to watch the crucial clash.
At EventCity in Stretford, south Manchester, hundreds of England supporters were able to sit outside in groups of six and watch the game on a big screen.
Enjoying the sunny weather the party carried on long after the final whistle with chants of “football’s coming home”.
Football fans at The Canal House in Birmingham city centre cheered wildly at the final whistle after a historic victory.
Warm temperatures especially in the north added to the party feel with fans savouring the moment in a fans zone in Newcastle and wondering whether this can be England's year.
In The Three Lions pub, on West Street, it was the same scene with the question of how far they can go with many people's favourite France also already out of the tournament.
But fans thinking of going to Rome for the quarter final game with Ukraine need to check out the Covid restrictions because any attempt to fly out even on Wednesday would see them have to go into a five-day isolation - and miss Saturday's match.
With flying out of the question there is a loophole that would allow supporters to go to the game at the Estadio Olimpico via road.
Italy is not enforcing quarantine for people entering the country for less than 36 hours and so it would be possible for England fans to fly to France and head down to Rome by car. France currently allows Brits to enter without the need for isolation if they have had both vaccine jabs.
There were 40,000 supporters inside Wembley Stadium, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their seven-year-old son Prince George, with many wearing the colours of the home nation.
Other famous faces included former Three Lions skipper David Beckham, and musician Ed Sheeran.
Outside, in designated fan zones, pub beer gardens and parks, fans gasped and held their heads in their hands as both sides traded blows in a scoreless first-half of few real clear chances.
Rapper Stormzy was among those watching the match outside the stadium.
Trafalgar Square in central London was full, while the celebrations were matched in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and across the length and breadth of the country.
A party atmosphere broke out in Trafalgar Square after England scored their second goal.
Several men ripped off their shirts and started to dance on the tables, much to the annoyance of security.
England fan Matt Champion, from Bristol, who was celebrating his 32nd birthday, said: "It's unbelievable, I never saw this coming.
"I bought a cigar in anticipation for the win from Cuba, I'm excited to smoke it.
"I'm very, very happy. This is the best birthday party I could have ever organised."
Dan Stephens, 22, who watched the game in Nottingham, said: "It’s unbelievable. I think we can win the whole thing now honestly.
"We were watching it in the pub, it was such a good atmosphere. Can you believe it’s a Tuesday? I’m so happy."
George Farrington, landlord of Hogarths in Hotel Street, Leicester, told how the place erupted when the first goal went in.
"It was a pretty exciting game," he said.
Tom Scott, 24, of Birstall, who had been watching the game in the pub, said: "It was tense in the first half but it was amazing when we scored.
Everything went up and the atmosphere was unbelievable.
"It was a brilliant game."
Over the road, Wayne Smith, 40, of Belgrave, was watching in The Market Tavern. He said: "It was brilliant and I think we deserved the win.
"I was pretty nervous through the first half - but that's what you expect with England, isn't it?
"Even when it was nil-nil at half time I felt England had what it takes.
"Germany had a couple of close goes at goal, though.
"At full time everyone was singing and dancing."
England made the breakthrough in the 75th moment as Sterling calmly found the net to open the scoring.
The chorus of "Three Lions" rang out through the stadium and throughout the nation as fans begin to believe that the team has a chance of winning a trophy.
Pubs swelled with supporters wearing replica football strips in the hours leading up to the 5pm kick-off, while St George flags billowed in the mid-summer breeze as die-hard and fairweather fans alike got into the feel-good spirit.
The Big Tree pub in Sheffield, South Yorks., welcomed fans into its beer garden from the moment they opened their doors.
The Greene King taproom has been dubbed the 'best decorated' in Britain after they draped the premises with flags and bunting.
Patriotic punters could be heard singing the mega-hit 'Three Lions' as they sank pints hours ahead of kick off.
One eager supporter took the day off work and was knocking back a pint of Stella Artois from 7am.
Mark Hartley, 40, woke up bright and early - because he was so excited about the match.
He said: "I can’t wait, I have taken the day off and it’s going to be a fantastic occasion.
"If you’re not getting the day off, what are you doing?
“Two big teams going against each other, how could you miss this?"
After the full time whistle blew, the Labour Party leader posted: "Brilliant by England."
He later wrote: I was in the stands at Wembley in ‘96. I remember the agony. The emotion this evening is indescribable."
The Prime Minister had earlier shared a picture of himself watching the match on TV from Downing Street with wife Carrie.
England will face either Sweden or Ukraine in the quarter-finals.
David Baddiel and Frank Skinner - who famously sang England anthem Three Lions - were also at Wembley and belted out the song alongside the other joyous supporters.
After the game, Baddiel shared a beaming picture alongside Olympic hero Mo Farah and wrote: "Might be coming home a bit faster with this lovely fellow on hand."
The history of England versus Germany weighs heavy on the nation given the heartache of the past, with gut-wrenching defeats at Italia 90, Euro 96 and the 2010 World Cup.
But the key message before this game was that this current crop of England players wanted to write their own history and they certainly did that at Wembley.
Former England captain Alan Shearer also praised Southgate for adopting a patient approach which ultimately paid dividends.
Shearer told the BBC: "Well done to Gareth Southgate because he had a plan before the game.
"There were plenty of impatient people in the stadium shouting for more forward players on the pitch, but he had his game plan.
"He put Grealish on at the right time, they got a bit of luck when Muller went through... it was a very dogged performance and they did what they had to do."
