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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ryan Merrifield

Tears and joy as England thrash rivals Wales 3-0 to send Dragons crashing out of World Cup

England have thrashed rivals Wales 3-0 to send the Dragons crashing out of the World Cup.

Drinks were thrown in the air in fan parks across the nation on Tuesday, with chants of "It's coming home" being sung loudly after the goals went in.

England won the game thanks to a goal from Manchester City star Phil Foden and a brace from Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.

There was a carnival atmosphere outside the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Qatar ahead of kick-off, with both sides exchanging chants - including England fans with a drum giving a rendition of "You're going home tonight".

But at the end of the game, Wales fans were seen leaving viewing areas in Swansea, with others holding their heads in their hands as they watched their side crash out of the tournament.

To follow the Mirror's live blog of the match click here

Welsh fans in the stadium watch their dreams of the knockout stages ebb away (Football Association of Wales)

England hero Rashford left the field with a big smile and a warm embrace from manager Gareth Southgate in Qatar, and comments of "what a star" shouted loudly at the TV screens in a pub in London's Chinatown.

But Welsh hearts were breaking and talisman Gareth Bale could do nothing as he sat despondently on the bench, having been subbed off at half-time.

It was a cagey first half in which Wales's low block kept them in the game, and the sides went in level after 45 minutes - only for England to step up a gear.

Some Wales fans had booed the rendition of God Save the King sung prior to the match.

But despite their team's lacklustre display as the game went on, they remained behind their boys.

England fans celebrate beating Wales at Central Park fanzone in Newcastle (Newcastle Chronicle)

The home nations went head-to-head on foreign soil for only the second time.

Excited crowds began gathering in pubs across Britain for a pre-match pint hours before kick-off, rooting for Southgate and Rob Page's teams.

Supporters were also seen raising a glass early in the day at the Three Lions' Red Lion Pub & Restaurant in Doha, which has become a popular boozer for Brits in Qatar.

Dejected Wales fans at the 4TheFans Fan Park at The Tramshed, Cardiff (PA)

England fan Scott Kind, 49, who lives in Qatar, said it was a "brilliant result" and he was pleased to see unused players in the squad get time on the pitch.

Asked if he had seen what he wanted to see, he said: "Second half yep, they need to be quicker moving the ball around but it was good."

On England's hopes for the rest of the tournament, Mr Kind said: "Decent draw second round and we'll see - I don't want to jinx it."

Wales fan Huw Phillips, 54, from Carmarthen, said they "held their own" first half but were "under the cosh" in the second, adding: "The dream is over but the boys have done well.

England fans celebrate their side's third goal of the game at BoxPark Croydon (PA)

"I'm very proud, never been prouder."

Mr Phillips said he has "thoroughly enjoyed" the trip to Qatar, adding: "I'm so glad I came because I'd ummed and ahhed."

John Holden, 65, and his son-in-law Liam Bradley, 36, were bouncing after the 3-0 win and dared to dream of a trip to the World Cup final.

Mr Holden, from Nottingham, said: "It was absolutely amazing, Wales were so poor, even first half we were just messing with them, getting them tired - Rashford, second half, he terrified them."

England fans celebrating at Manchester's fan park (ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

He added: "The fans were bouncing, we were absolutely bouncing and we still are."

Mr Bradley, also from Nottingham, said of their trip: "We've loved it, unfortunately we're going home tomorrow, we've been out here for 10 days."

Asked if they were tempted to find a way to return if England progress further, Mr Holden joked: "My wife would kill me, we'd both get divorced."

Mr Bradley added: "If we get to the final, maybe."

Mr Holden replied: "Oh here we go, where did that come from?"

A lone Wales fan reacts as England fans celebrate a goal (AFP via Getty Images)

The second the final whistle blew to mark the Three Lions' victory, the sound of Sweet Caroline was blasted out loud at O'Neills pub in London's Chinatown.

There was singing and dancing from the England football fans, who had been watching the match on several TV screens with a rendition of "It's coming home".

Draped in a St George's flag, medical student Jordan Smith, 21, of Marylebone, west London, said: "In the second half, our players turned up and we scored three goals in about 30 minutes.

"It took a long time but we took our chances and also brought on some players, which I think helped.

"When you see what we did in the second half, it gives you hope, but if you are drawing with teams like the USA, how do you think we will match up to squads like Germany?"

England fans celebrate after England’s Phil Foden scores (PA)

He said that "England maybe are not consistent enough" but, touching his chest, he added that as a diehard fan "it is all about heart - we have got to believe we can do this".

Kelly Robinson-Key, 34, is based in Carmarthenshire in South Wales said her husband supported England, while her daughter backed Wales.

She said that it was mixed emotions in her house after Wales were knocked out of the tournament.

"My daughter was a bit sad but pleased her daddy's team won," she said.

Wales fans watching their team at the World Cup for the first time in decades (PA)

"My husband is happy because he is now able to show his face at work tomorrow, but he does feel sad for Wales as he would like to have seen them through."

Wales fan Gethin Mark Harris, 58, from East Anglia by way of Swansea, speaking outside the stadium, said: "This is a hearts and heads story really, isn't it?

"Of course I wanted Wales to win, but England are a strong side.

Fans celebrating an England goal at the 4TheFans fan park in Manchester (ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

"It was a case of getting the first half out the way and trying to score some goals - we'd have to have attacked to do that - but it didn't work out that way.

"Obviously this is 64 years in the making and this is just the start, I think, because we've had a taste of what World Cup football is about."

Stood next to him was Jonathan Lowe, 58, from Cambridge who lives in Poland.

The two met on the trip and despite supporting rival teams were hugging after the match.

Marcus Rashford of England celebrates after scoring their team's first goal (FIFA via Getty Images)

Mr Lowe said: "It was an exciting game, there's no doubt.

"But football is about small margins and the first goal is critical. We definitely dominated Wales.

"I think it was a shame for Wales though. I'm an unusual Englishman - I support all the home nations when they are playing... apart from when it's against England.

"I think they lost it in the last game really. If they'd beat Iran, I think we would have seen a different Wales team tonight."

England will face Senegal in the knockout stage of the competition on Sunday, after topping the group.

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