FIFA World Cup 2018: England reach semis for the first time in 28 years
Updated On: 08 July, 2018 11:36 AM IST | Samara | Simon Peach
Harry Maguire's first international goal and Dele Alli's header take Harry Kane & Co into World Cup semis for the first time in 28 years

Harry Maguire is ecstatic after scoring England's opening goal against Sweden in Samara on Saturday. Pics/Getty Images, PTI
England are in dreamland after making it through to their first World Cup semi-final in 28 years thanks to goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli against stoic Sweden. Days after laying their penalty ghosts to rest against Colombia, Gareth Southgate's men diligently went about their job to continue this extraordinary summer and bring the fantasy of replicating the heroes of 1966 closer to reality.
Headers either side of half-time by Maguire and Alli secured a comfortable 2-0 quarter-final win against surprise package Sweden. The Three Lions followed manager Southgate's advice to grab the chance of a lifetime and produced an industrious display that made a mockery of Swedish quips about entitlement in the build-up. Maguire epitomises the graft this squad have put in over the years and headed home his first international goal after 30 minutes, continuing his rapid ascent from fan in France at Euro 2016 to England hero in Russia.


