England's inspiring team offers us hope of a joyful summer

ENGLAND needed this. Of course, other nations have endured a harrowing, horrible 18 months too; but sometimes it has felt like our country was being singled out for a unique form of suffering. Thousands of deaths, the NHS on the verge of collapse, the uncertainty of Brexit, interminable culture wars, and all that rain – sometimes England has felt more divided than ever before.

- Mark Piggott

And then came Southgate’s boys. A new England team for a bright new era: smart, lucid lads whose origins are from across the world, but all of them wearing the white shirt of England.

Mostly from humble backgrounds – Raheem Sterling, born in Jamaica but brought up within sight of the Wembley arch, Marcus Rashford, from Wythenshawe, bright young talents like Saka and Sancho, that Yorkshire defence, solid as Sheffield steel. A young, talented team, working to make the country proud – and working for each other.

As you listened to the players being interviewed before and after the match – indeed, throughout this tournament – you noticed how genuine they were, how supportive of one another and their opponents – not only praising Denmark, for example, but giving a signed England shirt to captain Simon Kjaer for stricken Christian Eriksen. For older fans, that brought back memories of the great Bobby Moore and Pele swapping shirts in 1970.