As England prepare for this summer’s UEFA European Championship finals, memories are instantly conjured of the Three Lions’ last major tournament – the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s squad went within a whisker of reaching the final in Russia, defeating Tunisia, Panama, Colombia on penalties and Sweden, before taking a semi-final lead against Croatia before ultimately being edged out 2-1 in extra-time.
Three years on, hopes are high that England’s talented squad can again do well and potentially win the country’s first European crown.
As eyes turn to international football after a superb 2020/21 domestic season, West Ham TV sat down with Jesse Lingard for the latest in our Reacts… series to look back on that unforgettable 2018 World Cup.
The midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough tournament, scoring a wonderful goal in the group-stage win over Panama, assisting Dele Alli’s goal in the quarter-final victory over Sweden and revealing he would have taken the sixth penalty in the dramatic shootout win over Colombia in the second round.
And, watching highlights of the tournament back at Rush Green at the start of May, the 28-year-old felt all the emotions flooding back – as you can see!
