Fans jubilant at Broad Street's Sports Cafe as England finally perform

Jun 24 2010 by Matt Lloyd, Birmingham Mail

JUBILANT cheers at Broad Street’s Sports Cafe met the final whistle of England’s crucial one-nil victory over Slovenia.

Nervous fans packed into the bar ahead of the crunch Group C match which could have seen England dumped out of the World Cup.

But with Jermain Defoe’s 22nd minute goal enough to see the Three Lions through, the fans’ faith seemed to be restored as they looked forward to facing old rivals Germany in the last 16.

“It wasn’t a great performance but the result was right,” said Daniel Holmes, 38, from Coleshill. “It was never about the performance, it was about getting through.”

And despite the USA’s dramatic late goal against Algeria, which saw England finish runners-up in the group, Mr Holmes said the cup was still in England’s grasp.

“It doesn’t matter who you play, once you get to the knockout stages you have to play the big teams. There’s no reason why they can’t go all the way.”

Builder Andy Nicholls, aged 24, and from Moseley, also hailed the win as a turning point for Capello’s team.

“This was the game that started the cup for us. They looked nervous in the first two matches, I don’t think they ever recovered from the USA goal.

“But that’s gone now, we’re through the group. Even though they only scored one today they played better.

“I would have been gutted to go out at the group stage so I’m chuffed they won. It was a nervy last few minutes. I was dreading Slovenia scoring and ruining everything, I don’t know what I would have done, but we’re through so the party can carry on. It’s a massive relief.”

One fan who was less pleased was Dave O’Neill, aged 28.

“I’m not very happy,” he said. “I’m going to a stag-do on Saturday and we planned everything around England topping the group and playing on Saturday. Now they’ll play Sunday so it’s ruined our plans.”

But despite the USA’s last minute spoiler, Mr O’Neill was pleased to see England through.

“It was a quality performance. Germany aren’t a problem. We can beat them.”