Just moments after the final whistle Don't Look Back In Anger came blasting through the speakers. But not even a crowd of more than 7,000 Mancs could muster a sing-a-long.
Instead, those that were left just stood, some with their heads buried in their hands, staring at the giant screens, emotionally drained, tying to comprehend what had just happened.
"I just can't believe it" said 24-year-old Callum Mayer, from Bury, as he trudged out of the Road to Victory fan park in Depot Mayfield. "That's all I can say right now. Gutted", echoing the views of so many others as they struggled to come to terms with England's heartbreaking 2-1 quarter-final defeat to France and their latest World Cup exit.
