PERHAPS, after all, football is coming home.

England squeezed through to the final of the Euro 2020 championship last night on, willed on by a nation which has been won over by manager Gareth Southgate’s cautious yet honest and hard working style of football played by a young team without preening superstars.

Before we celebrate, let’s commiserate with the Danes, whose brave red wall stood stronger than its political equivalent. Their campaign has also been brave, amazingly brave, after its horrific beginning when their star player collapsed with a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

The Danes will, with some justification, feel the penalty that settled the match was harshly awarded, but if nothing else, it was a reward for England’s resolute attacking.

Our nation is not alone in having suffered greatly in the last 16 months of the pandemic, but this shining success will help put the smile back on faces.

Yet, for all the jubilation, the job is not done yet, as the manager soberly knows. Losing in the final on Sunday will not assuage the 55 years of hurt since 1966. The Three Lions now need to regroup for the ultimate test and really bring football home.

C’mon England!