England fans are gearing up for the match against Sweden on Saturday 7 July, and also discovering that they might not actually know the lyrics to one of the most famous and beloved football songs.
"Three Lions (Football's Coming Home)" by Baddiel and Skinner is set to return to the Top 40 UK singles chart when the week's rundown is announced.
The song was written for the tournament in '96 by the two hosts of the BBC's lad's mag comedy show Fantasy Football with Ian Broudie of The Lightning Seeds. The song caught on and became a national phenomenon when England beat Scotland 2-0 at Wembley on 15 June 1996.
There are two versions, the original which was released in 1996, and a re-release for 1998. But one lyric has remained the same... yet fans are still getting it wrong, despite it being in the chorus and repeated several times.
On social media and in pubs across Britain, you might witness people singing the line: "Jewels remain still gleaming..."
This is wrong.
The actual lyric is: "Jules Rimet still gleaming." It's a reference to the Jules Rimet trophy - the original name of the World Cup trophy - which the English team won back in 1966.
Everyone seems to know the score, they’ve seen it all before They just know, they’re so sure That England’s gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away But I know they can play, ’cause I remember
Three lions on a shirt Jules Rimet still gleaming Thirty years of hurt Never stopped me dreaming
So many jokes, so many sneers But all those “Oh, so near”s wear you down through the years But I still see that tackle by Moore and when Lineker scored Bobby belting the ball, and Nobby dancing
Three lions on a shirt Jules Rimet still gleaming Thirty years of hurt Never stopped me dreaming
England have done it, in the last minute of extra time! What a save, what now! Good old England, England that couldn’t play football! England have got it in the bag! I know that was then, but it could be again
England supporters are still revelling in the dramatic penalty shootout win over Colombia on Tuesday evening, with Eric Dier and Jordan Pickford emerging as heroes.
Now the team are set to face Sweden, and experts and football fans alike sound hopeful that we're in with a good chance.
However, as The Independent's Gerry Cox noted of Sweden: "Their 4-4-2 formation and dour defensive approach may not be pretty or innovative, but it works for them and has got them into the last eight for the first time since 1994, when Tomas Brolin and co. finished in third place... Sweden are in the quarter finals and afraid of no one."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies