Football's Coming Home: Three Lions tops Spotify charts after England win against Sweden
The football song "Three Lions" has managed to top the Spotify charts with over 1m plays, the streaming service reports.
Following England's victory against Sweden taking them through to the World Cup semi-finals, the track by Baddiel, Skinner & the Lightning Seeds racked up 1m plays in a single day on 7 July, smashing its previous record from the England v. Colombia game. "Three Lions" also kept Drake off the top spot on the Spotify UK charts.
Big Top 40 presenter Marvin Humes said: "What an incredible day! It's only right that Three Lions is number one on the chart. Our boys in Russia are doing us so proud. The nation has come together and hopefully this is only the beginning of the celebrations.
Writing for The Sunin response to the song's success, David Baddiel said: "When we wrote the song, the refrain 'football's coming home' referred to both the fact the tournament was being held in England, and to the more mystical idea that we might win.
"But now the song seems to mean only we might win, and as the week went on, and the jubilation rose, yes, we are going to win."
England vs Sweden World Cup player ratings
England vs Sweden World Cup player ratings
1/22 Jordan Pickford – 9 out of 10
Save after save after save to keep his goal intact. His first brilliant save kept Berg at bay with a dive to his left, his second came with brilliant reactions to deny Toivonen and his third once again frustrated Berg. Nothing short of brilliant.
REUTERS
2/22 Kyle Walker – 7 out of 10
Started strongly and looked to gain confidence, with no mistakes that have blighted his campaign so far.
AFP/Getty Images
3/22 Harry Maguire – 8 out of 10
Excellent header to open the scoring as he outmuscled the Swedish defence and he was a bright spark at the back for England, with his surging runs from deep replicating that of his colleague Stones.
REUTERS
4/22 John Stones – 7 out of 10
He may have been overshadowed by Maguire but it was still a solid performance from the defender as he marshalled his lesser experienced centre-back-partners.
AP
5/22 Kieran Trippier – 8 out of 10
His delivery from corners was so consistent and gave England chances to attack, which Maguire duly took. Has been a revelation in Russia.
EPA
6/22 Jordan Henderson – 8 out of 10
Started off in a feisty manner as he clashed early with referee Bjorn Kuipers, but his performance started to do the talking with a committed showing. Crucial block after Pickford’s save from Toivonen the undoubted highlight.
EPA
7/22 Dele Alli – 8 out of 10
Silenced his critics with a second half header to put England two goals clear and effectively into the semi-finals. Linked with England’s attack well as he was given free licence to roam by the Swedes.
EPA
8/22 Ashley Young – 7 out of 10
Didn’t have a lot to do as he was allowed to focus on getting forwards against the poor Swedish attack. Important touch to take the ball away from John Guidetti late on.
REUTERS
9/22 Jesse Lingard – 7 out of 10
Lovely floated ball into Alli teed up the second goal on a plate, and he continues to jusify his place in the England squad.
AP
10/22 Raheem Sterling – 7 out of 10
Made run after run after run in the first half, only for his final touch to let him down as he twice sprung the offside trap. One should have resulted in a goal, but it was a solid showing if not with the finishing touch.
PA
11/22 Harry Kane – 6 out of 10
Slightly off colour, which given his performances in Russia so far can be forgiven. Had an early sighter that just ran past the far post, but couldn’t react quick enough when the ball fell to his feet in close-range.
REUTERS
12/22 Robin Olsen – 5 out of 10
His commitment to trying to save Maguire’s header can easily be questioned as he gave up on it before the ball had even crossed the line.
EPA
13/22 Emil Frafth – 4 out of 10
Gave away possession far too cheaply early on and England were able to target him with Sterling, Young and Lingard teaming up on the replacement, with Mikael Lustig absent.
REUTERS
14/22 Victor Lindelof – 5 out of 10
Came off second best up against Maguire at set-pieces and he did not look the imposing and controlling centre-back that he needed to be.
AFP/Getty Images
15/22 Andreas Granqvist – 7 out of 10
Sweden’s standout player as he gave it his all in a captain’s performance at the back, only for his teammates around him to wilt.
REUTERS
16/22 Ludwig Augustinsson – 6 out of 10
Didn’t close down Trippier quick enough that allowed the right-wing-back to deliber plenty of ball into the area for England to attack.
AP
17/22 Viktor Claesson – 6 out of 10
Grew into the game in the second half as he tried to free Berg and Toivonen, but was near-enough absent in the first half.
AFP/Getty Images
18/22 Sebastian Larsson – 5 out of 10
Disappointing performance as he was overran in the midfield. Had a late chance to make an impression when Sweden were awarded a free-kick, but allowed Forsberg to claim it instead who wasted the chance.
EPA
19/22 Albin Ekdal – 6 out of 10
Had a sighter from distance that never threatened Pickford’s goal, but offered little else going forward.
AFP/Getty Images
20/22 Emil Forsberg – 5 out of 10
Given what he is capable of, this was a disappointing performance from the wideman as the game largely passed him by.
AP
21/22 Marcus Berg – 6 out of 10
Should have scored twice but met his match in Pickford. His first chance saw him go for placement, only for Pickford to get a hand to it, and his second was more power only for the ‘keeper to palm it over the bar.
AFP/Getty Images
22/22 Ola Toivonen – 5 out of 10
His goalscoring struggles continue and when a glorious chance arose to end his drought, he fluffed his lines not once but twice as first Pickford and then Henderson blocked his efforts. By the time he went for a third, you felt he’d never score no matter how long this game lasted.
AFP/Getty Images
1/22 Jordan Pickford – 9 out of 10
Save after save after save to keep his goal intact. His first brilliant save kept Berg at bay with a dive to his left, his second came with brilliant reactions to deny Toivonen and his third once again frustrated Berg. Nothing short of brilliant.
REUTERS
2/22 Kyle Walker – 7 out of 10
Started strongly and looked to gain confidence, with no mistakes that have blighted his campaign so far.
AFP/Getty Images
3/22 Harry Maguire – 8 out of 10
Excellent header to open the scoring as he outmuscled the Swedish defence and he was a bright spark at the back for England, with his surging runs from deep replicating that of his colleague Stones.
REUTERS
4/22 John Stones – 7 out of 10
He may have been overshadowed by Maguire but it was still a solid performance from the defender as he marshalled his lesser experienced centre-back-partners.
AP
5/22 Kieran Trippier – 8 out of 10
His delivery from corners was so consistent and gave England chances to attack, which Maguire duly took. Has been a revelation in Russia.
EPA
6/22 Jordan Henderson – 8 out of 10
Started off in a feisty manner as he clashed early with referee Bjorn Kuipers, but his performance started to do the talking with a committed showing. Crucial block after Pickford’s save from Toivonen the undoubted highlight.
EPA
7/22 Dele Alli – 8 out of 10
Silenced his critics with a second half header to put England two goals clear and effectively into the semi-finals. Linked with England’s attack well as he was given free licence to roam by the Swedes.
EPA
8/22 Ashley Young – 7 out of 10
Didn’t have a lot to do as he was allowed to focus on getting forwards against the poor Swedish attack. Important touch to take the ball away from John Guidetti late on.
REUTERS
9/22 Jesse Lingard – 7 out of 10
Lovely floated ball into Alli teed up the second goal on a plate, and he continues to jusify his place in the England squad.
AP
10/22 Raheem Sterling – 7 out of 10
Made run after run after run in the first half, only for his final touch to let him down as he twice sprung the offside trap. One should have resulted in a goal, but it was a solid showing if not with the finishing touch.
PA
11/22 Harry Kane – 6 out of 10
Slightly off colour, which given his performances in Russia so far can be forgiven. Had an early sighter that just ran past the far post, but couldn’t react quick enough when the ball fell to his feet in close-range.
REUTERS
12/22 Robin Olsen – 5 out of 10
His commitment to trying to save Maguire’s header can easily be questioned as he gave up on it before the ball had even crossed the line.
EPA
13/22 Emil Frafth – 4 out of 10
Gave away possession far too cheaply early on and England were able to target him with Sterling, Young and Lingard teaming up on the replacement, with Mikael Lustig absent.
REUTERS
14/22 Victor Lindelof – 5 out of 10
Came off second best up against Maguire at set-pieces and he did not look the imposing and controlling centre-back that he needed to be.
AFP/Getty Images
15/22 Andreas Granqvist – 7 out of 10
Sweden’s standout player as he gave it his all in a captain’s performance at the back, only for his teammates around him to wilt.
REUTERS
16/22 Ludwig Augustinsson – 6 out of 10
Didn’t close down Trippier quick enough that allowed the right-wing-back to deliber plenty of ball into the area for England to attack.
AP
17/22 Viktor Claesson – 6 out of 10
Grew into the game in the second half as he tried to free Berg and Toivonen, but was near-enough absent in the first half.
AFP/Getty Images
18/22 Sebastian Larsson – 5 out of 10
Disappointing performance as he was overran in the midfield. Had a late chance to make an impression when Sweden were awarded a free-kick, but allowed Forsberg to claim it instead who wasted the chance.
EPA
19/22 Albin Ekdal – 6 out of 10
Had a sighter from distance that never threatened Pickford’s goal, but offered little else going forward.
AFP/Getty Images
20/22 Emil Forsberg – 5 out of 10
Given what he is capable of, this was a disappointing performance from the wideman as the game largely passed him by.
AP
21/22 Marcus Berg – 6 out of 10
Should have scored twice but met his match in Pickford. His first chance saw him go for placement, only for Pickford to get a hand to it, and his second was more power only for the ‘keeper to palm it over the bar.
AFP/Getty Images
22/22 Ola Toivonen – 5 out of 10
His goalscoring struggles continue and when a glorious chance arose to end his drought, he fluffed his lines not once but twice as first Pickford and then Henderson blocked his efforts. By the time he went for a third, you felt he’d never score no matter how long this game lasted.
AFP/Getty Images
He added: "I am daring to hope because I think this is a team marked by joy and newness and youth and Gareth Southgate's deep emotional intelligence. We have shrugged off, for the moment, the suffocating burdens of our history.
"Let's go further, to belief. We still believe, says Three Lions '98, so yes, all right, I believe - it's coming home."
England fans have hopefully learned the correct lyrics ahead of England's game against Croatia on Wednesday 11 July.
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