ITV commentator Ian Wright couldn’t help dancing and jumping for joy as England scored two goals against rivals Denmark and clinched their place in the Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday.
Behind-the-scenes video filmed last night shows the former England player-turned-pundit celebrating forward Raheem Sterling’s equaliser after Denmark’s Mikkel Damsgaard scored the opening goal to a stunned Wembley crowd of 60,000 spectators.
A second clip shows Wright jumping with Chelsea manager Emma Hayes after captain Harry Kane’s extra-time penalty-kick secured the Three Lions’ entry to the team’s first major tournament final since the 1966 World Cup victory.
Twitter users praised Wright’s outburst, with one saying: ‘Emma Hayes and Ian Wright is a duo we didn’t know we needed but we absolutely want more of #EURO2020’.
Another posted: ‘Have to admit my joy at England’s victory is amplified by the exultation of Ian Wright. The man is the embodiment of everything I love about football’.
A third said: ‘Ian Wright’s emotional passion is so infectious!’, while a fourth tweeted: ‘Brilliant tonight Wrighty. Love the celebration. Well said about Sterling being MOTM’. One fan wrote: ‘Dear @IanWright0, You have no idea how much I love and respect you sir. Sincerely, Arsenal fan’.
After the match, Wright – who also played for Crystal Palace and Arsenal and is now a commentator for ITV Sport and BBC sport – posted a clip of his celebration with Hayes to Twitter, captioning it with heart emojis and writing: ‘See you Sunday’.
England’s nerve-shredding game against the Danes went into extra time after the two sides drew 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Damsgaard scoring the opening goal with a long-distance free-kick before Sterling pressured an own goal.
Behind-the-scenes video filmed last night shows the former England player-turned-pundit celebrating forward Raheem Sterling’s equaliser after Denmark’s Mikkel Damsgaard scored the opening goal to a stunned Wembley crowd of 60,000 spectators
A second clip shows Wright jumping with Chelsea manager Emma Hayes after captain Harry Kane’s extra-time penalty-kick secured the Three Lions’ entry to the team’s first major tournament final since the 1966 World Cup victory
After the match, Wright – who also played for Crystal Palace and Arsenal and is now a commentator for ITV Sport and BBC sport – posted a clip of his celebration with Hayes to Twitter, captioning it with heart emojis and writing: ‘See you Sunday’
Twitter users praised Wright’s outburst, with one saying: ‘Emma Hayes and Ian Wright is a duo we didn’t know we needed but we absolutely want more of #EURO2020’
England captain Harry Kane and teammates celebrate after winning the Euro 2020 semi-final between England and Denmark
Wembley broke out into a chorus of Neil Diamond’s anthem Sweet Caroline after the final whistle went, with 60,000 spectators including Prince William, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, and 30 million people in homes and pubs across the country celebrating.
Last night’s victory is an historic achievement for England as it seals its place in Sunday’s final against Italy – the most important football game for the Three Lions in 25 years, and the first major tournament final the side have managed to reach since the 1966 World Cup.
England supporters in the official fan zone in London’s Trafalgar Square jumped with joy as the referee blew the full-time whistle.Supporters applauded and chanted every move from the Three Lions, before descending into singing It’s Coming Home as the match ended.
Fans are shirtless and throwing beers into the air, and have grouped together at the London landmark with chants of ‘Southgate you’re the one’ and ‘Don’t take me home’ ringing out. Stewards can be seen trying to move the fans on, but they continue to sing loudly in the fan zone.
People were on the ground, while others could be seen with tears in their eyes. Vic Richards, 22, from Croydon, south London, said: ‘I’m still trying to compute what happened, I’ve never seen England make a final.
England’s players celebrate after winning the Euro 2020 semi-final match between England and Denmark at Wembley
England’s forward Harry Kane (bottom) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the match
England manager Gareth Southgate celebrates after England beat Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-final at Wembley
England’s fans celebrate after the Euro 2020 semi-final match between England and Denmark at Wembley
‘It’s beautiful, it’s unbelievable, I love this country, the players gave it their all. This is an historic occasion, we may never see this again- now we can start to believe.’
Supporters could be seen jumping on tables and chanting and waving flags. One supporter, named Oliver Ways, 28, from Mitcham, said: ‘This time it’s coming home, the momentum is with us, I don’t care what anyone says. I’m so drunk but I don’t care – the game was just how we wanted it.
‘I can’t believe I’m saying this but England are in a final!’
As the match finished, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge praised the England team for a ‘huge team effort’. In a tweet from the KensingtonRoyal Twitter account, the couple said: ‘What a game, what a result! A huge team effort @England. The whole country will be behind you on Sunday.’
They added the hashtag #ItsComingHome.
Mr Johnson wrote on Twitter after the game: ‘Tonight @England played their hearts out. What a fantastic performance from Gareth Southgate’s squad. Now to the final. Let’s bring it home.’
England fans celebrate in Trafalgar Square after England score their second goal during extra-time in a spectacular match
England supporters celebrate England’s penalty and second goal as they watch the UEFA Euro 2020 semi-final football match between England and Denmark, at the 4TheFans Fan Park in Manchester
Also congratulating the England victory, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted a picture of himself celebrating as he watched the semi-final match on TV, with the hashtag: ‘#ItsComingHome’.
One overwhelmed fan, Peter Lewis, 18, from Richmond, south-west London, exclaimed: ‘Oh my word, I can’t believe it! When he missed there was a split second where I thought ‘it’s not going to happen’. What a captain, what a leader, he followed it up and smashed it home.’
England players took the knee again before kick-off in support of anti-racism, but no boos could be heard. ITV commentators said the atmosphere was ‘one of the best’ in recent memory and described the ‘buzz’ and ‘sense of occasion’ which could be felt in the massive stadium.
William, the president of the Football Association, cheered England alongside Kate and their son George last week. But the prince was without his family because the duchess is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.