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SAMARA, Russia (Reuters) – England defied almost three decades of disappointment to move into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1990 as head of Harry Maguire and Dele Alli downed to a dogged goal toothless Sweden 2-0 on Saturday.
Far more fancied England Gareth Southgate's young men and women in the United States.
Harry Kane for goals. Harry Kane for goals. They were set on their way when they came to the fore.
If anything, England's hero on the day was born at the end of the pitch as keeper Jordan Pickford produced three superb saves to the Swedes.
"We had to go with a lot of physical pressure," said England coach Gareth Southgate. "The resilience of the team and togetherness of the team today was crucial. "
The fans who have been at the Samara Arena for a long time. England have arguably their best chance of global glory in more than half a century.
Hosts Russia or Croatia, who meet later on Saturday and are less than Southgate's side, are all that between England and a first World Cup final since they won the tournament in 1966.
Yet while England's victory, only their third quarter-final success, was largely a one-sided affair it was certainly not straightforward.
How to make a tough job in the world of making life hard?
It was predictable in many ways, therefore, that the deadlock was broken from a set piece.
BULLET HEADER
England had labored without reward before Ashley Young lured up a corner on the left and the back of the head was made by Maguire charging forward with conviction and barging Emil Forsberg net.
That was England's eighth set-piece goalkeeper at this World Cup, but they are lethal from dead balls, apart from Kane they are not injured with too many other sharp shooters.
Forward Raheem struggles to score for England and just before halftime his doubters were handed ammunition when he was twice left behind to Sweden keeper Robin Olsen.
His blushes were saved by the linesman's flag as he fluffed the first chance, but then he went through again, only to be denied ounce more.
Pickford had not produced a top-drawer to keep Marcus Berg header.
The importance of the keeper's contribution was swiftly underlined with England doubling their lead in the 59th minute as Jesse Lingard's teasing cross into the box was set by Olsen.
Did not keep a clean sheet in their previous kilns and had Pickford to thank you for that they did not concede this time.
He saved superbly from Viktor Claesson before being teased a shot from the dead.
"I was not born the last time England reached a semi-final World Cup," said Pickford. "
Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Ken Ferris
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