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Sweden 0 England 2: Three Lions in dreamland after booking World Cup semi-final spot with Harry Maguire and Dele Alli headers seal win

Gareth Southgate's heroes are just one game away from a the final after assured quarter-final victory in which they outclassed the Swedes

THE fantasy ride continues as England have their feet on the ground but heads in the clouds.

They are still dreaming. And this country is now just one match from a World Cup final.

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Harry Maguire climbs high to power home his header to put England one-upCredit: Reuters
Harry Maguire is chased by John Stones as the celebrations after his goal beginCredit: Reuters
Dele Alli powers his header past Olsen to double the lead for England and put them on course for the semis
England celebrate after going two-up as they put Sweden to the sword in the quarter-finalCredit: AFP or licensors
England fans go mad as they take the lead in World Cup quarter final with Sweden

Two particular bonces are the toast of England - the first being Harry Maguire,  after his 30th minute opener.

Dubbed slab-head by Leicester and England team-mate Jamie Vardy, he eased the nerves and then Dele Alli also used his head to make it 2-0 in the 58th minute.

Whatever happens now, England have enjoyed an absolutely terrific tournament and you can take nothing away from these players and keeper Jordan Pickford who played his part with two world-class saves.

Importantly, they are improving and the best is yet to come - hopefully in Moscow on Wednesday.

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Kyle Walker leaps to control the ball as England tried to combat the defensive Swedish tacticsCredit: AFP or licensors
Harry Kane clips a pass away under the watchful eye of Seb LarssonCredit: Richard Pelham
Gareth Southgate looked the most relaxed person in the stadium just before kick-offCredit: AP:Associated Press

Gareth Southgate, England's new hero, has worked wonderS on this group and they were deserved winners over a really poor Sweden side.

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Despite the game being a World Cup quarter-final and the country going football crazy, the atmosphere inside the ground was strangely subdued as there were only a couple of thousands supporters from England and Sweden even though nearly 40,000 supporters were at the game.

Southgate’s side first threatened when Alli took the ball of Emil Krath, but his pass to Harry Kane was poor and rolled straight to keeper Robin Olsen.

Alli was guilty of another misplaced pass in an untidy started and Sweden’s first effort came through Viktor Claesson and even though it was high, keeper Pickford was furious at his defenders not closing down the winger quicker enough.

England fans in pubs across the country react after beating Sweden to reach the World Cup semi-finals


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England’s best chance came through Harry Kane who shot wide after a dazzling run from Raheem Sterling and England started to wake up.

The Three Lions started to look more threatening and from that first corner, the team scored and the fans behind the other goal wenty mad

Ashley Young's corner was perfect but Maguire still did exceptionally well to rise above Emil Forsberg - from distance - and power a a header past Olsen.

Sterling was miles offside when clean through but he failed to score and the flag went up very late.

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Fans go CRAZY as England’s Dele Alli scores vital goal in World Cup clash with Sweden
Raheem Sterling wasted a great chance to double the lead when clean through on goal - although his embarrassment was spared by the offside flagCredit: Reuters
Sterling again got in on goal and was onside this time, but again he squandered the chanceCredit: AP:Associated Press

Soon after, Sterling sprang the offside trap and tried to round the keeper when he should have squared to Kane. It was really poor.

At the started of the second half, Pickford delivered a brilliant one-handed save to keep out a header from Marcus Berg who outjumped Ashley Young.

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Sweden had started the second half much better but then England finally caused some panic in the opposing defence could not scramble the ball over the line.

Sweden keeper Robin Olsen gets down to deny Raheem Sterling as England swarm all over their rivalsCredit: Richard Pelham
Jordan Pickford flings himself to his left to keep out a header from Marcus Berg to deny Sweden an equaliserCredit: Richard Pelham
Pickford gets his hand to the header and England stay aheadCredit: Reuters
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But soon after and it was 2-0. Trippier played the ball back to Lingard, his cross was outstanding and Alli made the most of an invisible defence to plant a firm header into the net.

Pickford then delivered another brilliant save to keep out Claesson and somehow got a hand to a shot from Berg.

The Everton keeper was having the game of his life and he was one of the stars of this team who is clearly coming off age.

Maybe football actually is coming home. . At least England are not going home yet.

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England fans jump and dance on smashed car ambulance in London street party after beating Sweden to reach World Cup semi finals semi-final
Alli watches his header fly into the net as he rewarded the faith in keeping him in the side with his first goal of the tournamentCredit: AFP or licensors
Dele Alli celebrates with the crowd as Ashley Young trots over to join himCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Pickford scrambles in a desperate attempt to reach the low shot from Viktor Claesson as Sweden push for a way back into the gameCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Pickford completes the save as the England keeper does his bit to earn a semi-final spotCredit: Reuters
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