‘This is a new England’: rain fails to dampen optimism of fans in London

Even with England's poor record against Germany the mood in the Trafalgar Square fan zone was confident

They say anything can happen in football. But England's repeated defeats against the well-oiled German machine through the years belied that particular adage. For England, however, this was the day - a 2-0 result sending Gareth Southgate's side into the quarter-finals.

The prevailing mood as fans gathered to watch the last-16 match in the Trafalgar Square fan zone on an overcast Tuesday afternoon had ranged from quiet confidence to bold optimism, with a consensus that even with their poor record against Germany, the stars were aligning and this was England's time to shine.