England’s heroes belt out Sweet Caroline with jubilant fans in wild celebrations on the Wembley pitch… and singer Neil Diamond even sent the team a good luck message!
England stars could not contain their joy after reaching their first final since 1966 and belted out Sweet Caroline on the Wembley pitch in wild celebrations.
Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 heroes jumped up and down together as they sang Neil Diamond’s classic hit in unison with the jubilant Wembley crowd.
Cameras caught the brilliant moment at the end of a pulsating match, which ended with England as the victors after Harry Kane scored a rebounded penalty in extra-time.
England players belted out Sweet Caroline with fans at Wembley after beating Denmark
The delighted England stars couldn’t contain their joy as they celebrated on the pitch
The whole squad came on to the pitch at the end of the game to celebrate and soak in the amazing Wembley atmosphere after England secured their place in Sunday’s final against Italy – their first in 55 years.
Diamond’s song has become synonymous with big sporting events – heard before in big boxing fights in the UK – and it has also been adopted in football and used by fans at England games in the Euros this summer.
The 80-year-old American singer had wished England luck for their Euro 2020 semi-final clash with Denmark on Wednesday night, saying on ITV: ‘Hi Gareth, Neil Diamond here and I am wishing you the best for the semi-finals.
Best pals Declan Rice and Mason Mount are pictured singing together towards the supporters
‘I’ll be watching from the mountains of Colorado singing Sweet Caroline along with all of you. Good luck England!’
Pundit Roy Keane revealed his love for Sweet Caroline and a hilarious anecdote about rowing with a women at a Neil Diamond concert after the singer’s message to the England team was shown in the build-up to the match.
‘He’s brilliant,’ Keane said. ‘About 10 years ago, but I ended up arguing with the woman next to me. She kept singing all the songs out quite loud so I had a bit of trouble that night, but brilliant concert.’
Keane would have enjoyed the renditions at full-time then, which came thanks to Kane’s winning goal.
A delighted England skipper is now looking forward to facing Italy on Sunday and said he will be the proudest man at Wembley when he walks in the legendary Bobby Moore’s footsteps by leading his country out in a major tournament final.
England’s match winner Kane said he will be the proudest man at Wembley when he walks in the legendary Bobby Moore’s footsteps by leading England out in a major tournament final.
Roy Keane revealed a hilarious anecdote from a Neil Diamond (R) concert before England’s Euro 2020 semi-final clash against Denmark
‘It’s going to be an amazing occasion for sure. I’m extremely proud leading them out for any game.
‘The closer it gets the nerves and excitement will kick in. We have to make sure we are on the winning side and I’m looking forward to it. What an occasion.’
Raheem Sterling, who has been brilliant throughout the tournament and won the penalty from which Kane ultimately scored the winner, said after the match that England will regroup and be ready to face Italy in the final after their emotional win over Denmark.
He said after the celebrations, which included the fans and players serenading each other with ‘Three Lions’ and ‘Sweet Caroline’, focus would soon return.
‘It’s another step in the right direction,’ he added. ‘But once we’re back in the dressing room it’s over and we’ve got to focus on the weekend now. It’s step-by-step and that’s all we can do,’ he told ITV.
England booked a place in their first final since 1966 – and will now play Italy in Sunday’s final
England had fallen behind on the night to Mikkel Damsgaard’s free-kick, but quickly equalised as Simon Kjaer put through his own goal under pressure from Sterling.
Sterling then won a penalty – approved by VAR – after a tackle from Joakim Maehle, which Kane missed but then finished on the rebound.
‘It was a top performance – we had to dig in deep after the first goal we conceded in the tournament, and we regrouped well and showed a good team spirit to come back and win the game, Sterling added.
‘It was difficult going behind but we knew we had to stay patient – we knew with the legs we’ve got, the aggressiveness and the power we have in the team, it would be a matter of time before we broke them down.’