Jude Bellingham scored an extra-time winner as England beat Norway 2-1 on Saturday to reach the World Cup semi-finals, where they will face Argentina and Lionel Messi for the first time in the tournament.
The victory means England have now reached at least the semi-finals in four of the past five major tournaments, a record the BBC described as 'unprecedented times'. Only Argentina and France have a better record, with World Cup and Copa America titles to show for it.
“Jude Bellingham's extra-time goal sealed England's 2-1 win over Norway, setting up a World Cup semi-final with Argentina.”
England's journey to the last four comes a decade after they were knocked out in the last 16 of Euro 2016 by Iceland, and on the back of a dismal 2014 World Cup where they finished bottom of their group with a single point from a 0-0 draw against Costa Rica.
Since then, spearheaded by the brilliance of Bellingham and Harry Kane, England have become serial contenders. The pair have scored 11 of England's 13 goals at this World Cup.
Saturday's nail-biting victory over Norway was sealed by Bellingham's extra-time strike, adding to a performance that the Standard described as 'outstanding'. Djed Spence also impressed in a brief cameo.
England's history in major tournaments has been marked by long waits and painful exits. Before the 2018 World Cup, the Three Lions had reached only one final and three semi-finals in 68 years, two of those as hosts. The so-called 'golden generation' of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and others could not get beyond the quarter-finals, with Beckham sent off against Argentina in 1998 and Rooney against Portugal in 2006. David Seaman's error against Brazil in 2002 also ended a quarter-final run.
The song 'Three Lions', often derided outside England for its supposed arrogance, captured the hope over lived experience with its line 'England's gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away'. Now that sentiment feels outdated.
Even if England fall short against Argentina, this is a team built to compete, not just enjoy a brief dalliance with success. The semi-final awaits.