[imagesource: AP]

In 2018, as England’s FIFA World Cup run took them all the way to the semi-finals, “it’s coming home” became a national rallying cry.

Some call it arrogance, but in a way, it’s actually the Poms taking the piss out of their lack of success at major football tournaments in the years since 1966.

After yesterday’s win over the old enemy, Germany, the nation once again erupted into song, and you have to fancy England’s chances of making it all the way to the final.

The Euro 2020 draw has opened up very nicely for them, but before we get to their opponents in the next round, let’s touch on yesterday’s 2-0 win.

Manager Gareth Southgate was widely criticised on social media for picking a back five and a team set up to defend, whilst leaving so much firepower on the bench, but his game plan worked perfectly.

Granted, things would have been very different if Thomas Müller had slotted home a wonderful chance to make it 1-1 in the 81st minute, but it was not to be.

Raheem Sterling gave England the lead, and Harry Kane broke his tournament duck with an 86th-minute header, to send the Wembley crowd into raptures:

SCENES 😍😍😍😍😍 pic.twitter.com/cZDslch6uK

— England Football Fans (@EnglidsAway) June 29, 2021

The likes of Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford, and super-sub Jack Grealish also deserve credit for their starring roles:

I enjoy commentator Peter Drury, but somebody should remind him that this is a round of 16 matches, not a World Cup final.

One more look at some extreme beer wastage before we move on:

England was a SCENE today @backagain pic.twitter.com/Dv0CTa6QBf

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 29, 2021

England’s opponents in the quarter-finals would be the winner of Sweden versus Ukraine, and the Scandinavians went in heavy favourites, having topped their group with seven points.

In contrast, Ukraine only snuck into the knockout round after finishing third in Group C, with three points from their three matches and a goal difference of -1.

Just another reminder of why this format, with 16 of the 24 teams making the knockouts, is such a farce.

Nothing will top the drama of Monday night’s 14 goals, but it’s certainly worth watching the highlights below through to the end.

With the match finishing 1-1 after regulation time, Marcus Danielson’s extra-time red card reduced the Swedes to 10, and another penalty shootout loomed large.

Then, in added time of extra time, Artem Dovbyk scored to book a Saturday quarter-final against England (9PM SA time), and break Swedish hearts:

Here’s your full quarter-final lineup:

✅ Quarter-finals set!

👀 Sim the knockout rounds & crown your #EURO2020 winner! 👇@GazpromFootball | #EUROPredictor | #EURO2020

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 29, 2021

Didn’t you hear, UEFA – it’s coming home.

The Proteas were also in action last night, taking on the West Indies in the third T20 international.

We’re starting to see a pattern here – we get off to a great start, we limp to a sub-par score, and then we rely on our bowlers to paper over our batting cracks.

In the three matches of the best-of-five series thus far, we have batted first in each, making 160, 166, and 167.

Last night we looked set to crack 180, before losing five wickets for 27 runs in the final four overs.

The Windies then set up a solid platform for a successful run chase, and were 90/2 at the halfway stage, before Tabraiz Shamsi pumped the breaks.

Needing to defend 19 off the final two overs, Anrich Nortje conceded four off the penultimate over, leaving Kagiso Rabada to finish things off.

Despite a big hit off the final ball of the innings, the Windies fell one run short:

A 2-1 series lead against a fine T20 outfit is not to be scoffed at, but our repeated failure to capitalise on solid batting starts needs to be rectified if we are to stand a chance in the T20 World Cup later this year.

The fourth match of the series starts tomorrow at 8PM SA time, before concluding with the fifth match on Saturday.

With no Euro 2020 action this evening, an early night is in order.