England's World Cup dream remains firmly alive as they march towards a potential history-making victory, and with it, a tantalising prospect of an extra bank holiday for the nation. The provisional date for this celebratory day off? A thrilling Friday 24 July – just five days after what promises to be an electrifying final. This development comes hot on the heels of England's nail-biting semi-final showdown against Argentina, pencilled in for Wednesday, 14 July.
The government is now deliberating whether to make this nation-wide celebration a reality, marking 60 years since the Three Lions last lifted the trophy. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dropped a significant hint at the NATO summit in Ankara last week, stating that such a festive day was 'on the cards' – although he stopped short of committing fully. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has promised to weigh in with his thoughts if England reach the final, while Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch expressed concerns about the potential impact on the private sector.
England's thrilling 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway on Saturday night will be etched in fans' memories for years to come. Jude Bellingham was the hero of the hour, netting both goals – a stunning equaliser in first-half stoppage time and the winner in extra time. Norway had initially taken the lead through Andreas Schjelderup's 36th-minute strike, but England's battling spirit ultimately sealed their semi-final spot after VAR disallowed what would have been a Norwegian second goal.
Despite some fans describing England's performance as 'leggy', the end result was all that mattered – and Bellingham's incredible display stole the show. Birmingham supporters Russell Osborne, 34, and Jamie Smith, 31, heaped praise on their hero, while fellow Brummies Scott Bickerton and Ashley Wager expressed unwavering faith in England's chances of lifting the trophy. For them, it was all about 'world-class' talent and manager Thomas Tuchel's masterful touch.
Before this extra bank holiday can be confirmed – or ruled out – England must first overcome Argentina in their semi-final showdown, which kicks off at 8pm BST on Wednesday. The winner will then face either Spain or France in the final, with France currently fancied to edge past Spain in their own semi-final encounter on Tuesday night.