ENGLAND are into the semi-finals of Euro 2020 following a sensational performance against Ukraine.
It was a night to remember for the Three Lions in Rome, as Harry Kane netted twice to send them roaring into the semi-finals.
England will now take on Denmark this coming Wednesday after the Danes edged out the Czech Republic.
Follow ALL the latest reaction with our live blog below…
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SANCH-NO DISTRACTIONS
Jadon Sancho insists he is fully focused on England – despite his £73million transfer to Manchester United.
The winger, 21, was handed a shock start as the Three Lions crushed Ukraine 4-0 to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020 barely 48 hours after his Old Trafford switch was announced.
Sancho was one of the stars of the show with a strong performance, despite only featuring for six minutes in the tournament prior to his Rome display.
And speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live afterwards, he confirmed his sole attention is on all matters Three Lions with a semi-final against Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday.
The ex-Manchester City youngster said: “To be fair, I don’t want to talk about Manchester United.
“Right now I just want to focus on England.
“I’ve just been focusing on myself while I’ve been at England. I’ve always been ready if I needed to come on.”
DANE & DUSTED?
England reached the semi-finals of the European Championship for the first time since 1996 with a 4-0 win against Ukraine in Rome.
Standing between the Three Lions and the final is an inspired Denmark side, who have a good record against Gareth Southgate’s team.
Here, SunSport takes a look at England’s record against the Scandinavian nation since the two first met in September 1948.
WAY TO GO ROME
Italian police barred 52 fans from entering last night’s England game in Rome due to strict Covid rules.
Cops prevented the supporters from attending the quarter final against Ukraine at Stadio Olimpico amid fears of the contagious Delta variant of the virus.
England fans had already been warned that a five day quarantine was in place for anyone coming to Italy who had been to Britain in the previous two weeks.
Detectives cross checked names of travellers who had arrived in Italy from England and Ukraine with Euro 2020 ticket holders.
Non-essential travel is also currently banned between Ukraine and Italy.
Italian cops found some 52 fans who had not complied with quarantine rules and arranged to have their tickets cancelled.
TV PICK-FORD
A record-breaking 20.9million tuned in to BBC One to watch England’s 4-0 thumping of Ukraine.
That means the Euro 2020 quarter-final is the UK’s new most-watched TV show of 2021.
The 20.9m peak pips the 20.6m from Tuesday – when the Three Lions booked their spot in the last eight by beating Germany.
And the figure means the BBC One broadcast had a whopping 81.8 per cent share of the audience on Saturday evening.
On top of that, a further 5.2m live streams of the drama in Rome were watched through the BBC Sport website and the iPlayer.
That took the overall viewing number to around 26.1m.
NO SHIR THING
England fans are struggling to buy an official Three Lions shirt ahead of Wednesday’s big semi-final clash with Denmark at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s men made it to Euro 2020’s final four after eliminating Ukraine in the quarter-finals thanks to a decisive 4-0 thrashing with a brace by Harry Kane and goals by Harry Maguire as well as Jordan Henderson.
Hopes of a first international trophy since the 1966 World Cup are high and English supporters want to enjoy the ride in style.
But frustrated fans are finding it difficult to obtain the team’s jerseys, which are selling out.
RICE KANED
England star Declan Rice has joked ‘why always me’ after Harry Kane accidentally choked him during a goal celebration.
The team were celebrating their second goal against Ukraine in their Euro 2020 quarter-final when Rice was caught by his skipper.
After Harry Maguire doubled England’s advantage, Rice was the first man to catch up with the Manchester United defender as he celebrated his goal.
Kane was next to the party, jumping on top of Maguire and Rice and accidentally putting the latter in a headlock.
The West Ham star was held by the captain for a few seconds before the adrenaline faded and Rice could smile again.
BBC Sport then shared a video of the hilarious incident on Twitter – and the 22-year-old joined in the fun by quote tweeting it.
Rice joked: “Why always me?”
BEST ENG SHOW
SunSport readers have voted England’s Euro 2020 drubbing of Ukraine as their THIRD best match of the last 25 years.
But the 4-0 demolition job in Rome is still MILES off readers’ favourite game.
Gareth Southgate produced yet another tactical masterclass as England booked their place in the semi-finals.
Harry Kane scored twice – with Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson also finding the net – as the Three Lions recorded their biggest-ever margin of victory in a major tournament knockout game.
The 4-0 victory eclipsed 3-0 wins over Denmark and Paraguay at the 2002 and 1986 World Cups respectively.
The Roman battering was also the first time England have scored four goals in a knockout game since the 1966 World Cup final win over West Germany.
ZIZOU ARE YOU?
Luke Shaw delivered two assists for England in the space of three minutes and 51 seconds at Euro 2020
And that was more than French legend Zinedine Zidane managed in 14 appearances at the European Championships.
Shaw set up the second goal for Harry Maguire before crossing for Harry Kane to make it 3-0 in the 4-0 win over Ukraine in the quarter-finals.
Told about his achievement of overtaking Zidane’s contributions at a Euro, Shaw said: “A very strange stat! A nice one, I think.
“Obviously, Zidane was one of the best midfielders ever and I can’t compare to him.
“But the most important thing for me was reaching the semi-final, getting another game at Wembley in front of our own crowd and hopefully making them happy again.”
SOUTHGATE YOU’RE THE ONE
Stuart Pearce, former England international and team-mate of Gareth Southgate, has praised his pal for his decision making so far at Euro 2020.
Pearce cleared up a common misconception about Southgate.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “There was a misconception, potentially, and I’m talking from a footballing aspect, that he’s a soft touch, or whatever.
“I don’t think there is now because people in the game have [recognised] he’ll make the tough judgement calls and I’ll give you one or two real examples.
“He put Henderson in the group where a lot of people were saying he shouldn’t be, he’s not good enough for one reason, not fit enough. You can’t take injured players.
“He knew the worth of Henderson [and Harry Maguire], you saw that last night. Both on the score sheet. I’m absolutely delighted for both of them.
“But, because he knows what they both give the group he was prepared to wait. Not a popular choice in some quarters.
“Going into the first game, by the way, there was a lot of people shouting and hollering and rattling about Sterling shouldn’t be playing. Gareth knew his worth.
“All those people have pulled their necks in now because Sterling has probably carried this team, by the way.
“He [Southgate] has made judgement calls.
“Everyone wants Grealish and Foden in, popular choices, they are the sexy choices, but he hasn’t done that all the time. They have played their part as a group member but he picked the team he though was right and credit to him.”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES
SAK BACK, NO JACK
Gary Neville has picked his England XI for the Euro 2020 semi-final clash with Denmark – with Jack Grealish yet again missing out, writes DAVE FRASER.
The Three Lions demolished Ukraine 4-0 in their quarter-final clash in Rome with Jadon Sancho given his first start of the tournament.
The new Manchester United star, 21, looked lively throughout the game and gave England a new dimension in attack – despite being given a bizarrely low 4/10 match rating by L’Equipe.
Fans have been crying out for Gareth Southgate to utilise Grealish more having played just 115 minutes across England’s five games.
But Neville reckons the Three Lions boss should turn back to Bukayo Saka over Grealish or Sancho for the semi-final showdown against Denmark.
The Arsenal whiz, 19, starred in wins over Czech Republic and Germany but missed the Ukraine demolition job with a minor knock.
And Neville wants him back on the right-wing for the last-four clash at Wembley on Wednesday night.
LONDON CALLING
Hundreds of England fans took to the streets after last night’s thumping win over Ukraine.
Will the Three Lions reach the final next Wednesday?
Credit: GETTY IMAGES Credit: GETTY IMAGES SANTASTIC
Rio Ferdinand has made a bold prediction for Jadon Sancho’s first season at Man Utd.
Sancho started his first game a major international tournament for England last night in a 4-0 win.
And his dazzling footwork left United fans in awe.
Club legend Ferdinand spoke highly of Sancho on the BBC’s coverage of the game.
He said: “I’ll tell you one thing, next season at Man United, he’ll have people off their seats.
“There’s moments in this game where he draws your breath and you think, ‘Oh, wow, that’s different’ — and he’s a fabulous talent, we know that, but mentally he’s very strong and he’s got a desire to be as good as he can be.
“Players that can up the potential of the game are different and they bring something different to your team in the way that he does.
“This is his first game, by the way, in the tournament, and he comes in and plays the way he did and creates moments, it shows you the talent that is there.”
THREE YEARS LATER
Harry Maguire has scored at back-to-back major international tournaments for England.
LAMPARD ON SHAW
England and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has praised Man Utd left-back Luke Shaw for his fantastic form.
Shaw registered two more assists last night against Ukraine in England’s 4-0 win.
Speaking after the game, Lampard said: “Something has clicked with him in the last 18 months.
“Sometimes you can’t control injury stuff, he wasn’t in the best of shape. Now he can do what you want from him.”
THREE LIONS RUN RIOT
Goals from captain Kane, Maguire and Henderson seed a 4-0 win in Rome against Ukraine.
England will now face Denmark next Wednesday at Wembley in the semi-final.
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Jordan Henderson got his first England goal in 62 appearances.
CAPTAIN KANE
Harry Kane got off to a poor start at Euro 2020, but has since scored three in his last two.
And left-back Luke Shaw has registered three assists.
‘LONG TIME COMING’
England midfielder Jordan Henderson finally scored his first international goal after 62 appearances.
And Henderson couldn’t hide his excitement.
He said: “It’s about time, it’s been a long time coming.
“I have felt one coming and thankfully I’ve managed to get on the scoresheet.
“I’m delighted for the lads because overall the performance was fantastic and will give us good momentum going into the next game.
“I always felt it would come eventually, but I always try to contribute the best I can on the pitch, I never really think about that I need to score goals.
“There are a lot of other players to do that. I need to concentrate on my job on the pitch, what I need to do, what the coaching staff and payers need me to do.
“Of course I would have liked to have scored more goals but I can’t complain. I’m here, contributing and managed to get on the scoresheet.”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES CHOKEHOLD
Kane had Rice gasping for air!
‘ONE OF THE PLAYERS’ OF EURO 2020
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has praised potential Arsenal target Raheem Sterling as “one of the players” of Euro 2020.
Sterling has scored three goals for England and set up Harry Kane’s opener yesterday night.
Wright said: “Raheem Sterling is one of the players of the tournament.
“He finds Harry Kane with a brilliant pass (for the opening goal).
“He comes inside. We need players who can run with the ball, progress the ball, into Harry Kane who can take our half-chances. That’s a half-chance.”
‘MAN MOUNTAIN’
England and Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand heaped praise on Man Utd club captain Harry Maguire.
Speaking after the game, he said: “He (Maguire) brings composure and sometimes the team looks different when someone wants the ball.
“He wants to get on the ball and take pressure off the other players. The team breathes more when he’s in the team.
“They are a stronger team and a better when he’s there. He’s so comfortable in international football, some players prefer club level or playing for their country.
“In an England shirt he looks like a man mountain. He comes out and just picks the right passes.
“You saw in his first game back he was threading balls in the lines. He brings someone in and then plays it through.
“That’s the difference between him and other centre-backs.”
ARE YOU SHAW?
Luke Shaw is finally showing the promise that earned him the big move from Southampton to Man Utd.
And he’s replicating it well for England, proving to be one of the Three Lions’ most important players.
WON IN ROME
England fans were in dreamland last night after the Three Lions scored FOUR times to set up a historic semi-final.
Millions partied deep into the night in packed pubs, parks and streets across the country – while 5,000 Three Lions fans roared on the team in Rome.
Jubilant fans sprayed booze and danced on tables as Gareth Southgate’s side cruised to their first Euro’s semi-final in 25 years.
The win set up a titanic clash with Denmark at Wembley in front of a boosted home crowd of 60,000 on Wednesday night – and PM Boris Johnson hailed an “outstanding performance”.
UNSUNG HEROES
Gareth Southgate has paid tribute to the England stars who have yet to feature at Euro 2020.
He said: “It’s enjoyable but immediately I’m thinking about the players that I didn’t get on the pitch because the likes of Conor Coady, Ben Chilwell, Aaron Ramsdale, Sam Johnstone, Ben White.
“We’ve had 21 on the pitch but those guys have been as important. The spirit that they’ve created, the togetherness.
“I regret not getting them on the field and I hate this thing of having to leave three out every match.
“It takes more energy from me than anything else because none of them deserve to be out of the 26.
“The fact that the guys have shown the respect that they’ve shown is why we’re in the position that we’re in.”
NOT DANE YET
England will need to be at their best to get past Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-final, Gareth Southgate has said.
The Three Lions boss commented:
“They beat us in the autumn, we only drew to them in Copenhagen [in the Nations League]. They’re a very underestimated team.
“As a football nation they’ve done incredibly well, they’ve produced so many good players considering their population.
“This is going to be a really tough test and we’ll have to be at our best to get through it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
