The Three Lions army is on the move. After England secured their place in the knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Panama in New Jersey, thousands of fans now face a gruelling 15-hour drive – 900 miles south to Atlanta, Georgia – for the next battle against DR Congo. Flights immediately trebled in price after the win, forcing many to take to the road.
The victory, watched by a peak of 13.76 million viewers on ITV and STV (an 80% share), ensures England top Group L if they beat Panama tonight – although, as Channel 4's Andrew Misra reported from a Sheffield fan zone, the team's place in the Round of 32 is already guaranteed thanks to favourable results elsewhere. A win would set up a potential clash with Portugal, but fans are already looking further ahead.
“Thousands of England fans face a 900-mile drive to Georgia after 2-0 win over Panama.”
Neal Weekes, 61, an England superfan, said: “We’re through – that’s all that matters now. Let’s hope we’re back in New York to see Harry Kane lift the trophy in three weeks time. It wasn’t a great performance on Saturday but we’re on our way. Atlanta and Congo here we come.” Weekes is flying down via Nashville.
For Sunderland fans Mark Chapman and Peter Robinson, this World Cup is one to remember. Robinson, 69, a retired British Airways ramp worker attending his 11th tournament, recalled being in the Azteca stadium when Diego Maradona scored the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986. “I don’t think England can win it but I think we can make the quarter or semi finals,” he said. “At least there won’t be any Maradona style controversy now with VAR around. We didn’t even know it was handball until we got back to the hotel after the game – we assumed it was a header!”
Chapman, 64, a retired financial vice president at his second tournament, added: “It’s been a brilliant World Cup so far. The stadiums, the fans and the American people have been great.”
If England beat Congo, they will travel to Mexico City for a mouth-watering match – probably against the host nation Mexico – in the same stadium where Maradona scored his ‘Hand of God’. A victory there would mean a potential quarter-final against Brazil in Miami. The road to glory is long, but for now, the fans are heading south.