England coach Gareth Southgate acknowledged his side had failed to repeat their early World Cup attacking fluency in their 0-0 draw with the United States, but said success in major tournaments often required such gritty performances.
From cutting melons on a stomach to gold ice-cream, here's the weirdest, funniest stories from the world around.
Entering the tournament with minimal expectations and the second youngest team at the World Cup, England surprised many by reaching their third ever World Cup semi-final.
Spain and England have experienced very different journeys to Sunday's Euro 2024 final. We look at their path to Berlin below.
Harry Kane scored a brace as a Jude Bellingham-inspired England came from behind to beat holders Italy 3-1
Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli gave Gareth Southgate's side a deserved 2-0 last-eight win over Sweden on Saturday, and they must now prepare to take on Croatia in three days time for a spot in the World Cup final.
England finished second in the group to land a potentially easier route through the tournament.
Former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan was appointed manager of Championship (second division) team Middlesbrough on Monday.
Defenders Robert Huth and Jonathan Woodgate agreed to join EPL side Middlesbrough.
England spent little time celebrating Sunday's 3-0 World Cup win over Senegal before turning their thoughts to an intimidating quarter-final next Saturday against reigning champions France.
Wales will just want to land a blow on their old rivals, snap a run of six consecutive defeats against them and claim a first win over England since 1984.
US team mates will be busy preparing for their showdown with England at the World Cup in Qatar.
Kane, like most of the squad, was in Premier League action last weekend and there are only five days for Gareth Southgate to prepare his players for the opening game against Iran.
When the Oracle at Delphi famously told Croesus, King of Lydia, that if he waged war on the Persians he would destroy a great kingdom, he was delighted.
Panama were swept aside by a 'spectacular and beautiful' England, said coach Hernan Dario Gomez on Sunday, heaping praise on Gareth Southgate's side after seeing his team thrashed 6-1 in the World Cup Group G clash.
England begin their World Cup group campaign against Iran on November 21.
'As a group we need to stick together and concentrate on the football. The other side is not our issue'
That incredible spread of goals has been shared by Marcus Rashford (3), Bukayo Saka (3), Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Jordan Henderson plus Harry Kane.
England coach Gareth Southgate's last two tournament near misses were accompanied by criticism of his conservatism in selection but a relatively radical switch to bring in Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden paid off handsomely in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Wales.
Images from the Euro 2024 semi-final between the Netherlands and England, at Dortmund BVB Stadion, Germany, on Wednesday.
Jude Bellingham has become one of the most sought-after signatures in football
If any England players need advice on scoring against an African team ahead of Sunday's clash, they need look no further than their manager Gareth Southgate.
If this sporting clash was, as English essayist, novelist and journalist George Orwell said, "war minus the shooting" both sets of players were more than ready, and set about each other with little restraint.
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar
England fans, the majority of whom will be watching on sofas and in pubs back home, have rightly lauded Southgate but patience is beginning to run out.
Rashford, who played in the Euro 2020 final, was out of the England picture for 15 months as injuries and a loss of form and confidence saw his career plateau.
FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against England midfielder Dele Alli after he made an obscene gesture during a World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, a spokesman for the world body said on Friday.
English hopes of a run deep into the World Cup took a bit of a bruising on Friday when a lively and high-pressing United States team reduced the youthful stars of their tournament opener to anonymity.
The 20-year old, who scored 13 goals for Manchester United in all competitions last season, will be hopeful of a starting spot in Southgate's team after impressing in the warm-up games, including a long-range goal against Costa Rica.
Bairstow will be a key player for the England in the World Cup starting May 30 in the United Kingdom.
'We have to look at the whole team, not just one player. If we play together, and stay compact we can do well. I would not target a single player.'
"I think a comparison with Messi is something like an honour," Musiala told a news conference.
Striker Harry Kane will wear the captain's armband for England at next month's World Cup, ending speculation about who would lead Gareth Southgate's squad in Russia.
Saka's replacement Reiss Nelson made his first Premier League appearance since August 2021 and netted twice in three minutes in the second half for a blockbuster display off the bench.
How they strategised, motivated and led their teams to victory.
Jude Bellingham rescued England from crashing out of Euro 2024 against Slovakia on Sunday with a stunning 95th-minute equaliser before Harry Kane's early extra-time winner sent the sub-par pre-tournament favourites into the quarter-finals.
Victory for Gareth Southgate's England side in the eagerly-awaited Group D clash at a rain-swept Wembley stadium would have sealed a place in the last 16 but they produced a nervous performance against the Scots, who kept their own hopes alive.
Images from Saturday's action in the Nations League group stage matches.
A preview of the Euro 2024 Final between England and Spain
Kane takes to world stage as England edge past Tunisia
