Trying to find a tedious link to Nottingham without mentioning the obvious like when Jack Grealish was once on loan at Notts County or that time Jordan Pickford had a night out at Rock City… But football is the nations game and people from Nottingham, like you, like me, would have last night cheered the house down, the pub down, the old market square down, as we watched this young bunch of beautiful men and their excellent gaffer, create history.

We never seem to give them hope when it comes to England… Tongue in cheek we sing ‘football’s coming home’ when we know it’s really not… But this time feels different, this time we have a team not just capable on paper, that can win a major international tournament, but this time we have a team that consistently performs beyond expectations, and is actually very very good.

They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, credit Gareth Southgate who’s initial appointment in 2016 was interim, following the sacking scandal of ‘Big Sam’, Gareth was awarded the job sort of because he was the only man who would take it… Doing ‘ok’ with the U21’s he was asked to take charge of full matters ahead of World Cup Qualifying against Malta where England would record an unconvincing but professional 2-0 win at Wembley.

A scoreless draw in Slovenia before a thumping 3-0 triumph against the Auld Enemy followed, the win against Scotland all but securing the job in hand, many though still weren’t convinced.

Slowly but surely, Southgate began to win around those doubters, well spoken, articulate, passionate, one of our own, a proud Englishman from a military family, he took his team on an army bonding trip, even hired a bonding expert, he brought togetherness within the camp, and ever since it has paid to fruition.

Little gave his young squad hope in Russia 2018, almost a ‘freebie’ win or lose, England could do no wrong, playing without the pressure of ‘expectancy’ certainly helped, but England were underrated for what they did, reaching a semi-final of a World Cup is by no mean feat, perhaps the tournament came a year or two too soon, but back then our boys did us proud.

Fast forward today, England are now in an even better place, a better team, more quality in-depth, players ripe at the right time, still young and hungry, excelling on the biggest stage.

Never have I known an England team like it, certainly not an overnight success, many of the players have battled through trauma and tribulation, many written off, hounded by the press and boo boys, Harry Maguire, Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Luke Shaw, Jordan Pickford, they have all had their unfair share, but unlike those of past that failed to deliver when it mattered, this lot have a different kind of character, one that sticks two fingers up at those that don’t believe, why? Because they have a Manager who believes in them as people and as footballers, a man who gets the best out of them because he’s a man who knows what it is like to represent the three lions on the biggest of stages, he’s been through the failure that many of those have, and more.

Tuesday 29^th June 2021 was finally the night that Gareth Southgate laid ‘that penalty’ to rest against Germany. No longer remembered for being the man that couldn’t, instead the man that lead us to winning in the rain, fans singing in the rain, beating Germany at Wembley was the start of something special, the atmosphere, a throw back clash, it felt like a club game, a good old fashioned cup tie with a boisterous crowd, drunk men in joy when Raheem Sterling opened the scoring, heads in hands when Muller raced through, then a late goal to seal the mood and cement history with the whole nation going absolutely wild!

In contrast, Ukraine in Rome was much easier, it wasn’t supposed to be like this, England cruising in a major championships Quarter Final, quite possibly the most dominant knock-out performance our fans had ever seen. A team doing better and better every time they take the pitch.

Denmark in the semi-final was always going to be that bit tougher, by not conceding a goal for a record length of time, we knew that our defence would eventually be breached, and when it was, through a fabulous free-kick, it felt good, it was now going to be a test of character, ‘lets see what England have got’, and what they had was an immediate response.

The Danes were dogged, irritating, never let go, a nuisance from set plays and physical to handle, but England slowly, slowly started to grind them down, like a boxer who’s prepared to go the distance, Southgate could probably have gone for a knock out early, but wanted to bide his time.

That time came when he eventually brought on his second and third subs. The tenacity of Phil Foden linking up with the charismatic Grealish, Sterling’s pace and Kane’s craftsmanship, you couldn’t help feeling that during the first period of extra time, England had a better team than what they started the match with, Denmark, like that boxer on the ropes, had played all their cards with nothing left to offer.

No doubt they’ll be those that question the penalty, and the way it was dispatched, but another 15 more minutes of England attacking had that not have been scored would have ended only the same way. After two hours of football the Danes were blown out of the water, for the last five minutes of extra time they couldn’t even get the ball…. That’s how good this England are.

Next up is Italy and a final that will be momentous whatever the outcome. Whether it’s coming home or it goes to Rome, I don’t really care that much… I’ve loved watching the Italians play (and sing), just as much as I’ve loved watching my England unite our country with what they have done.

What will be will be, the best team will be worthy winners of the tournament, regardless of result though, a first final in 55 years is enough to get every player in that England squad not just knighted, but more importantly remembered and loved forever, but we are greedy us English… And why shouldn’t it be our time? One more to go, let’s now see it over the line.

*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).

*Main image @England fans celebrate reaching a first final in 55 years.