A team to be proud of: Can England go all the way?

As I write this, I've just come back from the pub after watching England defeat Colombia to progress into the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

It’s the furthest England have gone in the world’s biggest competition since 2006.

What makes it even more extraordinary is the fact that England beat Colombia on PENALTIES. Having lost six of their previous seven penalty shootouts, England’s triumph against Colombia was their first shootout win since 1996, and was also their first ever at the World Cup.

England will face Sweden in the last eight, a tie which most fans feel optimistic about.

It’s safe to say that the past two World Cups have been a bitter disappointment for England. A dismal defeat to Germany in 2010 was followed by the failure of not even getting past the group stages in 2014.

For the first time in a long time, I am genuinely excited about the England football team. Not since I was a child have I been this excited about an England side at a major tournament.

For once, the initial hype is warranted. As always, England fans have gone from states of apathy to pure euphoria.

Gareth Southgate has put together a side which is completely fearless. With most of the squad not weighed down by past failures, they’re able to go out there with a freedom that past sides haven’t been afforded.

Whether it was Harry Kane continuing to deliver the goals, the spellbinding save by Jordon Pickford when England were winning or the nerves of steel from Eric Dier to slot the winning penalty home, it was an absolutely exhilarating game to watch. From start to finish, I was fully invested.

Forget the so called golden generation of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney & co, this side is the real deal.

Let’s hope for another fantastic display against the Swedes on Saturday.

Is football coming home? I really hope so.