Santa delivered an early Christmas present and ho-ho-hope of England World Cup victory after the Three Lions beat Senegal 3-0 to get to the quarter finals.
Roared on by 20,000 fans in the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor, Harry Kane ’s men were everything they could have dreamed of as the Three Lions beat the Lions of the Teranga.
Now England will play the World Cup holders France on Saturday after they beat Poland 3-1.
But star man Raheem Sterling was forced to fly home after armed robbers targeted his family home with his wife and kids inside.
The Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor was jumping right from the start, and when Jordan Henderson scored the first goal after 39 minutes and Harry Kane the second just before half time the whole ground erupted.
Bukayo Saka scored the decisive third goal soon into the second half, rewarding Gareth Southgate for his selection after Raheem Sterling was forced to miss the match due to a “family matter”. After the final whistle Southgate hugged Jude Bellingham then joined his team applauding fans.
The Three Lions supporters bellowed, “Please don’t take me home” as they tried to extend hotel bookings and change their flights.
But Senegal supporters added to the atmosphere, hundreds of them swaying and dancing to the incessant beat of the drums.
After the match, England fans streamed away from the stadium, 25 miles from Doha, dreaming of World Cup glory. Leo Caldwell, 12, said: “It was so exciting going to go to an England game. And we won, which is brilliant.
“Now I’m really looking forward to the quarter final. I think England can win the World Cup.”
His sister Isla, 10, said: “There was a great atmosphere. Being part of the England fans was amazing.
“It was a very special day which I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Spurs fan Matt Pooley, 49, an accountant from north London, said: “What a fantastic win. We really are up and running now. We’ve got every chance of going all the way. The fans were brilliant.
“I’m really pleased we played our small part in getting the team through. We have a chance of winning the World Cup if we have the rub of the green.”
He’s enjoying his fifth World Cup with his mate Geoff Gibbs, 59, a West Ham supporter from Streatham Hill, south London, who works in project management.
They are both staying on the MSC Europa ship where the WAGS were staying before they moved onshore. He said: “I’ve really loved the tournament so far. We’ve been to all the games. Let’s hope England can go all the way.
“France will be tough but we’ve got the players to win it.”
Sarah Weston, 31, a neonatal intensive care nurse from Southampton, said: “It has been a fabulous atmosphere right through the tournament. I was hoping Poland were going to win to be honest but England are going through. They have the magic touch.””
Chelsea fan Mustafa Hassan, 25, and Man U supporter Salah Mohamed, 27, flew in from the United Arab Emirates for the game.
Salah, a Sudanese aircraft engineer, said: “We have seen Kylian Mbappe for France and that is going to be some game. He’ll take some stopping.”
Mustafa, a car service advisor, said: “We paid £180 for one ticket and around £200 for the other, but we are desperate to see them in the quarter final. We will stay here to see that game if we can.” But there was bad news for little Elliott Berridge’s football mad mum and dad.
He is just six months old and his mum and dad wanted to take him to the game but were told he needed his own ticket and special Hayya card, which is a strict requirement in Qatar.
Dad David said: “It was a real shame. It would have been great to have taken Elliott.
“But I can’t believe they wanted him to have his own ticket. We would have taken him in a baby sling. He didn’t need his own seat. He really loves wearing his England kit.”
David, 40 and wife Holly, 33, are originally from Marlow, Bucks, but now live in Qatar.
They left Elliott with friends as they celebrated the historic win.
