adminLONDON. — England’s newspapers yesterday celebrated their national team’s passage to the 2014 World Cup soccer finals on an “utterly magnificent night” at Wembley, but played down hopes of glory in Brazil. Goals from talismanic striker Wayne Rooney and midfielder Steven Gerrard helped England to a 2-0 win over Poland at a noisy Wembley, which contained around 30 000 away fans, and ensured they finished top of Group H.
“Off to B-roo-zil”, said the Sun’s back-page headline, in praise of England’s goalscorer.
The popular tabloid took partial credit for the result after urging readers to rub a pair of lucky Brazil nuts printed in Tuesday’s edition.
The Daily Mail carried a picture of Rooney’s headed goal on its back page, along with the headline “Heading for Brazil”.
The paper’s chief sports writer Martin Samuel praised England’s “positivity” over their last two matches and hailed often-criticised manager Roy Hodgson for picking Tottenham rookie Andros Townsend, who put in another dynamic performance on Tuesday night.
The Daily Telegraph ran with headline “Happy and Glorious” across a photograph of a celebrating Rooney.
“This was a raucous, draining and utterly magnificent night,” said Henry Winter. — AFP.
Online Reporter