Jurgen Klinsmann: “Throughout the entire England team, there was not even one weakness. What I really loved was in the second half they went for the second goal and they wanted to finish the game off.”
Alan Shearer: “I did not ever feel anything other than we were going to beat Sweden and get to a semi-final. I never felt nervous at all during the game, and that is how comfortable they made us feel.
“We have got a momentum and a team spirit that is just dragging them through. I thought this was England’s best performance of the tournament – I know they battered Panama but against Sweden they managed the game superbly well, and saw it through.”
Rio Ferdinand: “We all fancied England to win before the game, by how many goals we did not know, but we fancied us to win because there is a confidence that exudes from this team, a knowhow and a philosophy.
“I wanted an identity borne out of this tournament for this team and I think we have got it now. They are possession-based, yes, they keep the ball and probe and we have got players in there who can make a difference.
“And they are young players gaining valuable experience here – they are enjoying it, and they deserve to be. What an environment that must be to be in.