England’s players and staff were met by jubilant hotel staff members and supporters as they returned to their Al Wakrah base following the win over Senegal.
Gareth Southgate’s side ensured they reached another quarter-final, sweeping aside Aliou Cisse’s sub-par African champions – setting up a mouth-watering clash with France for a place in the last four.
Arriving back at the hotel following another highly successful evening, England’s players walked into the hotel to be met with gleeful adulation with staff members and some others laying on an endearing celebration.
England’s players arrived back at their base to be met by jubilant scenes involving locals
In scenes similar to those seen at Holland’s hotel after their win over the USA on Saturday evening, Southgate’s players walked into the lobby with flags waving and confetti falling from above.
It was a welcome respite from the sad news earlier that popular squad member Raheem Sterling had been forced to return home after his partner and children were subject to an armed robbery at their Surrey home.
As England’s players arrived at the hotel, workers danced, some with vuvuzela-like horns blowing, while others had the St George’s flag draped over their shoulders.
The players were showered with confetti and giant party poppers as they took in the adulation
In the footage, circulated across England’s social media channels, Jack Grealish can be seen taking particular delight in the attention being paid to the squad as he dances upon arrival.
The players themselves will have their own footage of the joyous scenes – with many filming their team-mates. Mason Mount appeared to find Grealish’s entrance particularly funny.
In contrast to Grealish, Marcus Rashford did not seem to want to engage – passing through the crowd with his hood up, though he did have a big grin etched across his face. Reserve goalkeeper Nick Pope bounced up and down next to him.
Jack Grealish took particular glee in the reception – dancing to the enjoyment of those who had greeted him and his team-mates
Phil Foden, who after a difficult start to the tournament appears to have come into his own and seems likely to make his third consecutive start against France on Saturday, passed through filming the scenes.
While Declan Rice, ever the enthusiast, bounced up and down like Pope in a huddle with Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Grealish and a number of those who had stayed up to greet the players.
Rice himself shared footage on social media of him going to dance with the supporters.
It must have been quite lovely for the staff members to have been met with equal enthusiasm by the players themselves.
Marcus Rashford – perhaps one of the more shy members of the squad – kept his hood up
Kyle Walker, meanwhile, took a leaf out of his Manchester City team-mate Grealish’s book in dancing an individual jig. The right-back, who returned from injury against Wales and is now set for the unenviable task of trying to keep Kylian Mbappe quiet, waved a small flag as the jubilant scenes continued around him.
England’s footage ended showing supporters chanting England – no doubt hoping for a similar party late on Saturday night.
Unlike Holland’s video, there was little footage of Southgate dancing a jig like Louis van Gaal, with the manager briefly caught grinning in the background.
Kyle Walker mirrored his club team-mate Grealish in dancing alongside the staff and supporters
The charismatic Dutchman stole the show as his team returned to their base following their 3-1 win over the USA. Van Gaal danced and filmed those greeting his Holland side, causing much hilarity across social media.
Two weeks on from having been greeted by local supporters outside their hotel, England now enter the final stint of the tournament dreaming of a place in the last four in consecutive editions.
After the victory over Senegal, Southgate hailed his side’s ruthlessness – with England maintaining their impressive scoring streak.
‘I think the ruthlessness of our execution (was my favourite part),’ Southgate told ITV.
‘But the way the team worked off the ball, and without the ball. I think in the end we were a bit sticky with the ball in the first 25-30 minutes.
‘Senegal had a lot of energy, they pressed well, their shape was good. And really our best opportunities came from winning the ball from them.’
England defeated Senegal 3-0 to set up a quarter-final clash with France on Saturday evening
In similar scenes to those seen two weeks ago when England arrived in the country, supporters chanted for England and the players