Sweden 0-2 England: Post-match reaction from players and pundits

The Three Lions are in their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 - and are now 5/2 to win the World Cup in Russia.

Days after laying their penalty ghosts to rest against Colombia, Gareth Southgate's men diligently went about their job in Samara to continue this extraordinary summer and bring the fantasy of replicating the heroes of 1966 closer to reality.

Croatia or hosts Russia now await in just England's third-ever World Cup semi-final, with headers either side of half-time by Maguire and Alli securing a comfortable quarter-final win against surprise package Sweden.

Here is a selection of reaction from both players and pundits.

Former England captain Alan Shearer lauded England's "professional" and "thorough" performance.

Shearer said on BBC One: "Amazing. What a performance. Professional, thorough. Every single player played their part.

"Pickford was outstanding in goal when he had to be. I thought Harry Maguire was superb, Henderson... what a shift he put in in midfield. John Stones, Dele got his goal. All of them were absolutely magnificent and thoroughly deserved it.

"Their attitude from the very first moment they arrived at this World Cup to now has been first-class and I didn't ever feel anything other than we are going to win this game, we are going to get to a semi-final. I never felt nervous at all during the game and that is how comfortable they made us feel."

England's tally of 11 goals equals that set at the 1966 World Cup, which they won as hosts.

Harry Kane, who leads the race for the 2018 Golden Boot with six goals, is determined not to get carried away.

He said on BBC One: "We know there is still a big game ahead with the semi-final, but we are feeling good and confident. We just have to go again, keep doing what we are doing and make the country proud."

Spurs midfielder Dele Alli felt England had produced the necessary performance with the expectations of a nation on their shoulders.

He said on BBC One: "It is a great achievement for the team. We owed it to all the fans back home.

"We have seen how they have been supporting us and believing in us, it was a good performance again from the team."

Alli praised England's work ethic, telling BBC One: "It was a real graft out there.

"It was important we had faith in the game plan and the way we know we can play as a team."

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford produced a number of fine saves and Alli said of the Everton man: "He proved in the last game how big he is for this team and proved it again today, so we will all be celebrating together."

Pickford felt England had shown a mental strength to progress against the battling Swedes.

"We knew it was going to be difficult and what they bring to the party, and we managed it very well," he said on BBC One.

"It just showed how our ability is coming out and also the mental part of our game."

Pickford paid tribute to the Three Lions support, who were outnumbered in Samara.

He said on BBC One: "England fans are a different class. When the fans are like that, it makes us even better and so much more relaxed."

On the achievements of reaching the semi-finals, Pickford added: "We have always said to take it game by game.

"We can go and create our own history, but now it is about rest and recovery for the next game.

"It is not going to be easy, but we will work hard enough and our ability should show."

England manager Gareth Southgate praised the resilience of his players to lift themselves again following the penalty shootout drama against Colombia.

"We knew it was going to be such a different game from the other night, to come back having had extra-time and penalties, with the emotions of it to lift ourselves through a completely different test," he said on BBC One.

"It was always a scrappy game where we had to withstand a lot of physical pressure, but the resilience of the team and togetherness of the team was crucial."

Southgate felt England had stood up to the test against Sweden.

He said on BBC One: "They are a well-organised team and make life tough.

"Over the years we have underestimated them, today I think our spirit was as good as theirs and our quality a little bit better."

Southgate felt Pickford had made "critical saves at crucial times."

He said on BBC One: "A goal (for Sweden) at that stage and you have got the ball raining in your box probably for the last 20 minutes.

"He has been excellent and his distribution again today was superb."

Southgate also paid tribute to a collective effort, on and off the pitch.

He said on BBC One: "I cant speak highly enough of the whole squad and whole group of staff because it is so united in there.

"The level of work has been great and their commitment to each other, you don't get through with just 11 players. They are all top people and are the reason we are in the semi-final just as much as any other."

The England boss said playing against Russia in Moscow would be "an incredible game" to be involved in, but will take things one step at a time.

"We will enjoy tonight, I hope everybody at home enjoys tonight because as we know, it is not very often that it has happened," he said on BBC One.

"All I know is the managers who have got to semi-finals (with England) are ones I hugely respect and to be involved at this stage with England now if an incredible feeling."

The Duke of Cambridge, who is also the Football Association president, posted on Twitter to hail England's "incredible World Cup run" and add to the chorus of people proclaiming: "Football's Coming Home!"

Odds correct at 1740 BST (07/07/18)

Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLife

Related World Cup links

• World Cup outright tips
• World Cup Golden Boot tips
• World Cup fixtures & schedule
• World Cup groups & predictions
• World Cup team profiles
• World Cup best bets
• World Cup Golden Boot contenders
• World Cup Golden Ball contenders
• World Cup Golden Glove contenders
• New world champions in Russia?
• World Cup venues in focus
• Full World Cup squad lists
• More free football tips
• Sky Bet's World Cup odds