England supporters erupted in celebration across the country after the Three Lions booked their place in the Fifa World Cup semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway.
Fan parks, pubs and public viewing areas were transformed into scenes of jubilation as thousands of supporters celebrated the final whistle, with many embracing, waving St George’s flags and breaking into chants of “It’s Coming Home” and “Hey Jude” in honour of match-winner Jude Bellingham.
The midfielder proved to be England’s hero, scoring twice to overturn Andreas Schjelderup’s first-half opener for Norway and keep alive England’s dream of winning a first World Cup since 1966.
Videos shared by broadcasters including Sky Sports, the BBC and Al Jazeera showed emotional scenes as supporters jumped in unison, hugged strangers and celebrated long into the night after England secured a place in the last four.
Many fans admitted they had endured an emotional rollercoaster after Norway took the lead, but Bellingham’s second-half equaliser and decisive strike in extra time sparked wild celebrations around the country.
The result has fuelled belief that Thomas Tuchel’s side could finally end England’s 60-year wait for World Cup glory.
Supporters praised the team’s resilience and composure under pressure, with many describing the comeback as one of the nation’s most memorable World Cup victories.
England’s triumph also ended Norway’s fairytale run at the tournament, with the Scandinavian side earning widespread admiration despite falling just one match short of the semi-finals.
Attention now turns to a mouthwatering semi-final showdown against Argentina, a fixture steeped in World Cup history.
Confidence among England fans has never been higher, with many daring to believe this could finally be the year football comes home.
With just two matches separating England from lifting the trophy, the celebrations following the victory over Norway reflected a nation beginning to dream once again.
Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter for Independent Media and social media coordinator of the our YouTube channel The Clutch
