World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst roars on Lionesses ahead of crunch Euros semi-final with Sweden
WORLD Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst roared on the Lionesses ahead of tonight’s Sweden semi-final — declaring: “The whole nation is rooting for our girls.”
With England’s women one game from a Euros showdown against France or old enemy Germany, he added: “Hopefully they can win it at Wembley like we did in 1966.”
Sir Geoff, 80, who famously hit a hat-trick against West Germany in that game, said he has been won over by our stars’ skill and fighting spirit.
England were fired into the last four by a 22-yard thunderbolt from the right foot of Georgia Stanway. And Sir Geoff told The Sun: “I’d have been proud to have scored that. What a screamer, and what a way to win a game.
“Georgia has emerged as a star but she’s just one of a group who play with incredible technical skill and determination. The way they all celebrated showed they have great togetherness.
“They play with real heart and spirit. Hopefully they will have enough of that to carry them on to the final — and I hope to be there to cheer them on should they make it.”
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Man City’s Ellen White, 33, is just one strike behind Wayne Rooney’s 53-goal England record, while Millie Bright, 28, will be facing Chelsea team-mate Magdalena Eriksson in the Sweden team.
Tonight’s game at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane kicks off at 8pm on BBC1 and is expected to be watched by at least 11million fans in homes and pubs across the country.
And for the first time for women’s football, 5,000 fans will watch on big screens in Trafalgar Square.
England boss Sarina Wiegman’s M&S suit now even rivals men’s coach Gareth Southgate’s waistcoat from the 2018 World Cup as a fans’ favourite.
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Sales of the £45 single-breasted blazer rocketed 140 per cent in the past week, with the matching £22.50 navy trousers up 24 per cent.
