Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Nathan Jacobs

World Cup 2018 LIVE - England in semi-finals after win over Sweden, Croatia beat Russia, latest news, reaction, updates, schedule, dates and more

It’s day 25 of the 2018 World Cup and a nation wakes up with a sore head after England reached the semi-finals on Saturday.

Wild celebrations took place across the country after England beat Sweden 2-0 thanks to goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli. It is the first time that England have reached the last four since 1990, and ensures that they will play two more games in Russia in the form of the semi-final and either the third-place play-off or the World Cup final itself.

The team that awaits England is Croatia after they knocked out World Cup hosts Russia in a thrilling penalty shootout – the second of the Croats campaign. After going the distance against Denmark, a 2-2 draw with Russia sent Saturday’s second quarter-final to a shootout and it was Ivan Rakitic who fired them into the semi-finals.

There may not be any games today, but there’s plenty of news and reaction and we’ll have it all here, so don’t go anywhere.


Live Updates

12:23
Alright, enough news, yeah? Back to England fans throwing beer and going berserk?
 
You asked for it. 
 
Here's Times Square in Newcastle casually enjoying Maguire's opening goal... 
12:12
FINALLY! SOME BREAKING NEWS AND IT ISN'T ENGLAND RELATED!
 
The World Cup was dreadfully disappointing for Spain. 
 
They sacked their manager Julien Lopetegui on the eve of the tournament following his public announcement that he'd take over at Real Madrid. 
 
To make matters worse, they were knocked out in the last 16 by the hosts Russia on penalties. 
 
And now, it has been confirmed that stand in Fernando Hierro has left the Spanish Football Federation.
12:07
Is it getting out of hand? 
 
No, no it's not. 
11:44
 More, more, just give us more of this please. 
 
Sun. Football. England winning. 
11:42
I think he summed up England's performance and out prospects pretty well, don't you? 
11:22
On the subject of other sports, Lewis Hamilton, who today will occupy pole for the record SIXTH time in the Great British Grand Prix has had some funny things to say in the press conference before England's match with Sweden.
 
At least he can race with a clear head today. No football's on. 
11:16
You can't beat football. Rafa knows. 
11:15
As you can see, even Rafael Nadal, a Spaniard, is trying to get off the court as fast as possible. Poor tennis. Poor Wimbledon. 
 
11:14
Meanwhile, our other man in Russia, Miguel Delaney, had this to say last night:
Pretty much spot on, if you ask me! 
11:04
But our man in Samara, Jack Pitt-Brooke thinks he knows just how we might deal with the threat of Croatia. 
 
And yep, you guessed it, it's courtesy of our Sweden hero, the slabhead, the Sheffield grit, Harry Maguire. 
 
10:59
And Jack Watson followed their progress closely, providing you with a list of things we may have learned from their victory against the hosts, Russia. 
10:58
Perhaps we're all getting a bit carried away.... It's not coming home JUST yet! 
 
England have still got a semi-final to navigate their way through and that won't be easy with Croatia having come through TWO penalty shootouts already. 
 
They're a good side with two of the world's best midfielders in their squad. 
 
Here's how they made it:
10:42
  
I LOVE STATS. 
10:37
And what about our hero? 
 
What about the man who's made this impossible dream, possible?
 
Yes, Gareth Southgate, the waistcoat-wearing legend, the humble dignified winner, the thoughtful, understanding man of the people?
 
How did he react to this mighty victory in which England SAILED into a semi final?
 
With typical modesty, that's how. 
 
10:29
Right, goodbye to Keown and hello to more fan celebrations!
 
Across the country there are just incredible videos of jubilant supporters and plenty of limbs.
 
Keep them coming! 
10:23
And yet, amidst all the good... there's sometimes the bad. 
 
Here's Martin Keown doing his best to put a dampener on things. #getalife
10:18
The country's gone bonkers and we're only in the semi final (so far).
 
Some are saying the celebrations have gone too far with a London ambulance destroyed and an Ikea store being vandalised, and perhaps some fans are getting ahead of themselves. 
 
But the vast majority are simply taking to the streets, disrupting traffic, singing and who can blame them? England will be playing in a World Cup semi final on Wednesday night. 
 
I can't bear thinking what the roads are going to look like when it actually comes home! 
10:13
We've seen what Clapham Junction bus stops have endured but here's a wider view of an incredible looking street party:
10:10
How about we relive the winning goal. The first goal. Harry Maguire.
 
He's not half shot to stardom during this World Cup, along with the rest of the Three Lions squad but his powerful header in the first half gave England the platform they needed to secure the win and progress through to the semi final. 
 
Here it is again, just in case you haven't seen it, or, like me, you want to watch it another 25 times today... 
10:07
You've seen the clip of Southgate conducting the crowd. 
 
Well, here's the fans' P.O.V in the aftermath of the Sweden victory...

Please allow a moment for the blog to load...

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.