at six, england awaits — the stage is set for tonight's semifinal at wembley against denmark. 60,000 fans are there tonight forthis, england's first england's first european championship semi—final since they lost to germany in 1996. we are going to do it, darling. and we will see you on sunday! yes, we're here!

it's a chance for us to go out there and prove — it's a chance for us to go out there and prove it — it's a chance for us to go out there and prove it we _ it's a chance for us to go out there and prove it. we can— it's a chance for us to go out there and prove it. we can talk- it's a chance for us to go out there and prove it. we can talk as - it's a chance for us to go out there and prove it. we can talk as much| it's a chance for us to go out there . and prove it. we can talk as much as we want. _ and prove it. we can talk as much as we want. but — and prove it. we can talk as much as we want. but we _ and prove it. we can talk as much as we want, but we have _ and prove it. we can talk as much as we want, but we have got _ and prove it. we can talk as much as we want, but we have got to - and prove it. we can talk as much as we want, but we have got to go - and prove it. we can talk as much as we want, but we have got to go outl we want, but we have got to go out there _ we want, but we have got to go out there and _ we want, but we have got to go out there and perform. _ more than 20 million people are expected to watch on television as football fever grips england. we will be pitchside at wembley for build up — also tonight: new daily covid cases climb above 30,000 as the prime minister defends plans to lift england's restrictions. labour says it will cause chaos, with huge numbers self—isolating. building the loyalist bonfires bigger than ever — preparations for the?12th ofjuly?celebrations in northern ireland which often divide opinion. game, set and match, djokovic. applause and cheering. and djokovic sails into the semifinals at wimbledon, but federer is having to put up a fierce fight. and coming up on the bbc news channel, we'll take you inside the denmark camp. can they stop england from reaching a first major final since 1966?

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. just two hours to go until england kick off their euro 2020 semi—final clash with denmark. the eyes of the nation will be on wembley, with 60,000 fans in the stadium. and expectations are high. if england win, they'll go through to theirfirst major tournament final since the world cup of 1966. let's go straight to wembley and our sports correspondent, natalie pirks. forget the emotion of the scotland game, the history of the germany match or the euphoria of ukraine. denmark are the highest ranked side that england would have faced so

far. they are playing some beautiful football, and they are chasing their own fairy tale, but something seems to be happening with england. after so many years of falling short. here is our sports editor dan roan. england's long quest to reach the final of a major tournament again has been a painful one. from those tears at italia �*90... oh, dear me. ..and the hurt of euro �*96... oh, no! ..to the more recent humiliation of defeat to minnows iceland just five years ago. but under manager gareth southgate, a new england has emerged. maybe times are changing! finally, success at penalties, at last, a win over germany. in comes the captain! and for once, a campaign full of confidence. we've got great competition for places all over the pitch, so it gives the manager a great headache to have and whoever�*s called upon on the day will go out there and do a job for the team. as england return here to wembley

in front of 60,000 fans, the sense that the hosts will never have a better chance of going all the way. it's once in a lifetime, isn't it? i've been pinching myself for weeks. as soon as i woke up, - i had butterflies in my belly. i can't wait for tonight. if we get knocked out, i'm going to be so sad. you have to go back more than half a century to the last and only time england won a semifinal, here at wembley against portugal in 1966, and we all know what happened then. well, england have certainly capitalised on playing here at wembley during these euros, and when they walk onto the pitch this evening, gareth southgate's side will know they're just one win away from doing what no other england team has ever achieved. but standing between them and a first ever european championship final is a team that's become one of the stories of these euros, and unlike england, they've won this tournament in the past. 1992, and jothensen�*s goal helped secure one of football's biggest

ever shocks as rank outsiders denmark win the euros. so, could such a fairy tale be repeated? we have the same similarity here right— we have the same similarity here right now — the whole of denmark is celebrating. and we already won the euros in our iopinion, because christian is alive. i so, after the second game, we started concentrating i and focusing on football. riding a wave of emotion after the cardiac arrest suffered by star christian eriksen in their opening match, underdogs denmark have had an unforgettable campaign. they're the last team to beat england at wembley last year, and it's clear they won't be overawed. what would it mean to you guys to stop it coming home? has it ever been home? i don't know, have you ever won it? in �*66, it was home. but was that not the world cup? whoever wins tonight, italy awaits in sunday's final. they needed penalties to get there, not a way england would choose, but tonight they'll take any path to glory. dan roan, bbc news, wembley.

well, denmark will provide stiff competition. the team were rocked at the beginning of the tournament, as dan mentioned, but since then, they have gone from strength to strength and won in emphatic style. they have won the competition before and they believe they can again. our correspondent lucy williamson reports now from copenhagen. "danish dynamite", some are calling it. this nation has proved before that it can come from nowhere to win the championship. it did exactly that in 1992. it means a lot. i know my parents have been talking about the last time we won it, or the only time we won it, in 1992. so, i think even now, when we just got to the semifinal, this will be something that we are going to talk about for the next many years. back then, denmark won the tournament without their top player, a challenge that's all too familiar to the team today. christian eriksen collapsed from cardiac arrest just minutes into the first game.

"let's do it for christian" is now a mantra here. denmark's star player could still help them win tonight without ever setting foot on the pitch. lots of people here told us they often backed england when it wasn't playing their own national side. "playing at wembley means england will feel the support," one said, "but they'll feel the pressure, too." i always celebrate for england. every tournament, i really hope for english win. and every time, they disappoint me so much. so, tonight, i also hope they will disappoint me a little bit because then denmark will go to the final. mike is supporting england from here in copenhagen. his wife and children are supporting the other side. just alone at the moment. i trying to find some english fans| in copenhagen, just to bond a bit and then hopefully we can win the match tonight. _ euro 2020 has breached the banks of football here and filled this nation's soul.

the underdogs who reached the semifinal by working as a team, and theirfans who dream of more. lucy williamson, bbc news, copenhagen. well, the atmosphere is already bouncing outside wembley and up and down the country, a nation is hoping that this time england can banish those semifinal blues. so, how are the nerves, england fans? sian lloyd has been finding out. timer;r the nerves, england fans? sian lloyd has been finding out.— has been finding out. they are fanatic about _ has been finding out. they are fanatic about football - has been finding out. they are fanatic about football and - has been finding out. they are fanatic about football and with j has been finding out. they are i fanatic about football and with a training session just hours ahead of their hero kicking off in wembley, these england fans in solihull are trying to keep their eye on the ball while dreaming of the big match to come. i while dreaming of the big match to come. . . while dreaming of the big match to come. ., . , .., , come. i am feeling excited because this is the semifinals _ come. i am feeling excited because this is the semifinals and _ come. i am feeling excited because this is the semifinals and they - this is the semifinals and they might win. i this is the semifinals and they might win-— this is the semifinals and they miaht win. ., ., might win. i love football and i can't wait _ might win. i love football and i can't wait to — might win. i love football and i can't wait to watch _ might win. i love football and i can't wait to watch the - might win. i love football and i can't wait to watch the match i can't wait to watch the match tonight _ can't wait to watch the match toni . ht. ., ., can't wait to watch the match toniaht. ., ., ,

tonight. yeah, i have been feeling ve aood tonight. yeah, i have been feeling very good about — tonight. yeah, i have been feeling very good about this _ tonight. yeah, i have been feeling very good about this match - tonight. yeah, i have been feeling very good about this match and i i tonight. yeah, i have been feeling i very good about this match and i am also feeling — very good about this match and i am also feeling very— very good about this match and i am also feeling very anxious _ very good about this match and i am also feeling very anxious but - very good about this match and i am also feeling very anxious but really i also feeling very anxious but really excited _ also feeling very anxious but really excited. , ,., , . excited. the sports centre where they meet _ excited. the sports centre where they meet is _ excited. the sports centre where they meet is setting _ excited. the sports centre where they meet is setting up - excited. the sports centre where they meet is setting up for - excited. the sports centre where they meet is setting up for a - excited. the sports centre where l they meet is setting up for a busy night. 150 fans are booked in to watch the game and although covid rules mean they won't be allowed to sing, staff are anticipating a great atmosphere. the sing, staff are anticipating a great atmosphere-_ sing, staff are anticipating a great atmoshere. , , ., , , atmosphere. the members have missed havin: the atmosphere. the members have missed having the bar — atmosphere. the members have missed having the bar open, _ atmosphere. the members have missed having the bar open, and _ atmosphere. the members have missed having the bar open, and i _ atmosphere. the members have missed having the bar open, and i can _ having the bar open, and i can assure you as a trustee of the club who deals with the finances, we have missed the income. so thank god we are getting back to it. everyone will have a great time tonight. it will have a great time tonight. it will be as exciting as we are allowed. a , ., . ., . allowed. many will watch the match at home. allowed. many will watch the match at home- in — allowed. many will watch the match at home. in the _ allowed. many will watch the match at home. in the street _ allowed. many will watch the match at home. in the street in _ allowed. many will watch the match at home. in the street in bristol, i at home. in the street in bristol, they all live in hope. each of the 88 homes proudly flying the flag. in sheffield, local boy harry maguire is headline news, the whole town willing him on. irate is headline news, the whole town willing him on.— willing him on. we always do a community _ willing him on. we always do a community thing _ willing him on. we always do a community thing because - willing him on. we always do a| community thing because harry willing him on. we always do a i community thing because harry is a local lad. we have to get behind him. we have known him for such a

long time. him. we have known him for such a lona time. ., ., him. we have known him for such a long time-— long time. could the local boy heled long time. could the local boy helped england _ long time. could the local boy helped england to _ long time. could the local boy helped england to win? i i long time. could the local boy| helped england to win? i hope long time. could the local boy i helped england to win? i hope they do well. helped england to win? i hope they do well- we — helped england to win? i hope they do well. we are _ helped england to win? i hope they do well. we are all _ helped england to win? i hope they do well. we are all super _ helped england to win? i hope they do well. we are all super excited i do well. we are all super excited and hoping _ do well. we are all super excited and hoping we — do well. we are all super excited and hoping we are _ do well. we are all super excited and hoping we are going - do well. we are all super excited and hoping we are going to i do well. we are all super excited and hoping we are going to win. | do well. we are all super excited i and hoping we are going to win. we are three _ and hoping we are going to win. we are three yorkshire lads, we should be all— are three yorkshire lads, we should be all right — are three yorkshire lads, we should be all right-— be all right. they hope it's coming home, be all right. they hope it's coming home. but — be all right. they hope it's coming home. but in _ be all right. they hope it's coming home, but in derby— be all right. they hope it's coming home, but in derby is— be all right. they hope it's coming home, but in derby is coming i home, but in derby is coming together. piece by piece, two fans have been building a portrait of harry kane from 10,000 dice, doing their bit to spare the team on. in west london, there is no doubt about who will win. west london, there is no doubt about who will win-— who will win. england, definitely. the only discussion _ who will win. england, definitely. the only discussion in _ who will win. england, definitely. the only discussion in feltham i who will win. england, definitely. the only discussion in feltham is| the only discussion in feltham is about by how much. 3=1 the only discussion in feltham is about by how much. 3-1 england. harry kane. _ about by how much. 3-1 england. harry kane, 2-0. _ about by how much. 3-1 england. harry kane, 2-0. it's— about by how much. 3-1 england. harry kane, 2-0. it's coming i about by how much. 3-1 england. i harry kane, 2-0. it's coming home. a aood luck harry kane, 2-0. it's coming home. a good luck message _ harry kane, 2-0. it's coming home. a good luck message from _ harry kane, 2-0. it's coming home. a good luck message from the - harry kane, 2-0. it's coming home. a good luck message from the prince i harry kane, 2-0. it's coming home. a good luck message from the prince of| good luck message from the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall on social media, with the band of the coldstream guards. here in the west midlands and across england, excitement is building, with fans willing on their team. sian lloyd, bbc news, solihull.—

bbc news, solihull. come on, encland! whoever wins tonight'smatch will face italy on sunday here. they beat spain 4—2 on penalties last night in an absolute cracker of a match. the italians go into that final 33 matches unbeaten. 0ur rome correspondent mark logan looks at italy's chances. as midnight struck, italy dared to dream. with the winning penalty against spain, elation and relief for a country now on the cusp of its first european title in 53 years. daytime brought hangover cures in the way italians do best as they digest this special moment. it means a lot because italy didn't win in european championships

since 1968, and if we win... we celebrate until we die, i think! after italy's year from hell, with the devastation of the pandemic, this team has broughtjoy back to the italians and for many here, that is in itself the victory, whatever happens on sunday. for the next generation of italian footballers, watching the success is an inspiration and, they say, a spur to follow in the team's footsteps. translation: we all hope one day i we can get to that level, to play i says constantino, to play for italy and celebrate victory. national glory is one game away. national pride is already here. mark lowen, bbc news, rome. well, if the fans outside are anything to go by, the noise that will greet england here at kick—off

will greet england here at kick—off will be considerable. just one last considerable hurdle to go before we find out if england make their first final since 1966, sophie. what find out if england make their first final since 1966, sophie.— final since 1966, sophie. what a nirht! final since 1966, sophie. what a night! natalie _ final since 1966, sophie. what a night! natalie pirks _ final since 1966, sophie. what a night! natalie pirks at _ final since 1966, sophie. what a | night! natalie pirks at wembley, thank you. the rest of the news now. the prime minister has been defending his plans to sweep away most of england's coronavirus restrictions in 12 days' time — describing his approach as balanced and reasonable. amid predicitons that cases could reach 100,000 a day by the summer, the labour leader, sir keir starmer said the government's strategy to open up the economy will lead to chaos and confusion with huge numbers of people having to self—isolate. but borisjohnson said the vaccination programme makes lifting the rules possible. here's our deputy political editor vicki young. when cases go up, countries have locked down. not this time. ministers are taking the opposite approach in england, confident vaccines will protect more of us from the worst of this third wave.

will hospitals cope with rising covid cases, prime minister? more infections mean more people with long covid and the risk of new variants. the labour leader says we're heading for a summer of chaos and confusion. let's be clear why the number of cases will surge so quickly, because he is taking all protections off in one go. that is reckless. is the prime minister really comfortable with a plan that means 100,000 people catching this virus every day and everything that entails? we will continue with a balanced i and reasonable approach, and i have given the reasons. this country has rolled out the fastest vaccination _ programme anywhere in europe. the vaccines provide more than 90% i protection against hospitalisation. i but the owners of this teashop in grantchester are facing another problem. they're closed because so many staff are at home after coming into contact with an infected person.

soon people who have had both jabs will not have to isolate, but the rule's not changing until the 16th of august. the impact on this business and all hospitality businesses like mine is devastatingly serious. we have a ridiculous system where for the third time in less than 15 months, this business has been shut down by the rules of this government, and that's not fair and it can't continue. frustrations shared by senior mps quizzing mrjohnson this afternoon. is it the case that until we get to that point on 16th august, people who have been jabbed twice will have to isolate even if they have had a negative covid test? we're asking people i to isolate and i know how frustrating it is, but... why? . because i'm afraid this is a highly. contagious disease and we have to do what we can to stop its spread. you can hear a contradiction at the heart of

the prime minister's message. he is lifting almost all restrictions but still urging caution. gone is the euphoric language describing freedom day. instead, it's clear that this pandemic is far from over. normal life is returning but the pattern of this pandemic so far suggests some difficult weeks ahead. vicki young, bbc news, westminster. the latest official figures show that in the past 2a hours, 33 deaths were reported and 32,548 new infections were recorded across the uk — the highest number since 22nd january. there's been an average of 27,557 new cases per day in the uk last week. almost 86,000 people received a first dose of the vaccine in the latest 24—hour period. this means more than 45.5 million people have now had theirfirstjab, 86.4% of uk adults. over 153,000 people have had their second dose of the vaccine

in the latest 24—hour period. and more than 34 million people have now had both doses — that's 64.6% of uk adults. the world health organization has urged extreme caution when lifting restrictions during a surge in cases even in countries that have good vaccination rates like the uk. the who's head of the emergencies programme, dr mike ryan, said the idea of letting people get infected with covid—19 earlier rather than later was "epidemiological stupidity". 0ur medical editor fergus walsh examines how big the third wave could be. despite increasing levels of vaccination, coronavirus cases are doubling in the uk roughly every nine days, so how protected are we? the office for national statistics estimates 89% of adults now have

antibodies against coronavirus. levels vary around the uk but are the highest so far during the pandemic. antibodies will either be the result of prior infection or increasingly vaccination but having some antibodies is not a guarantee against getting infected. b, some antibodies is not a guarantee against getting infected. b. 11th some antibodies is not a guarantee against getting infected.— against getting infected. a lot of these adults _ against getting infected. a lot of these adults will _ against getting infected. a lot of these adults will have _ against getting infected. a lot ofj these adults will have antibodies but they will be low levels, they will be winning antibodies from their original infection. what we need forfull their original infection. what we need for full protection from something like the delta variant is the high level of neutralising antibodies from two doses of the vaccine. so antibodies from two doses of the vaccine. ., , vaccine. so how big will the third wave be? the — vaccine. so how big will the third wave be? the government i vaccine. so how big will the third i wave be? the government estimates cases could rise to 50,000 per day ljy cases could rise to 50,000 per day by the 19th ofjuly and perhaps 100,000 later in the summer. what really matters is the number of people who become seriously ill and immunisation is ensuring a lower proportion of people are being

admitted to hospital but even so there could be 1000 hospital admissions per day later this month and perhaps double that if cases spiral upward. i and perhaps double that if cases spiral upward-— and perhaps double that if cases spiral upward. i think other places in euroe spiral upward. i think other places in europe and _ spiral upward. i think other places in europe and the _ spiral upward. i think other places in europe and the world _ spiral upward. i think other places in europe and the world will i spiral upward. i think other places in europe and the world will see i spiral upward. i think other places i in europe and the world will see the uk as— in europe and the world will see the uk as a _ in europe and the world will see the uk as a test— in europe and the world will see the uk as a test case to test how effective — uk as a test case to test how effective the vaccines are at a fairly— effective the vaccines are at a fairly hyped but not complete vaccine — fairly hyped but not complete vaccine roll out stage and to see if this triggers the rise of new variants _ this triggers the rise of new variants that are under pressure to .et variants that are under pressure to get around — variants that are under pressure to get around that vaccine protection. so how— get around that vaccine protection. so how many people might have two self—isolate in the coming weeks? for every covid case around three close contacts are identified. these are very rough estimates but if we hit 50,000 cases per day, that could mean nearly1.5 hit 50,000 cases per day, that could mean nearly 1.5 million people a week being ordered to self—isolate. if we hit 100,000 cases per day by the 16th of august, the date at which the self—isolation rules are

being relaxed, it could be nearer 3 million people a week. tomorrow ministers are expected to announce a date when fully immunised people arriving in england from book list countries will no longer have to quarantine. it would open up travelled to many tourist destinations and sparked a scramble for holiday bookings. fergus walsh, bbc news. our top story this evening: england awaits. the stage is set for tonight's semifinal at wembley against denmark. and roger federer is out of wimbledon after losing his quarterfinals match in straight sets in the last few minutes. and coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel, we'll have the rest of the day's sports news. we'll be live from wembley as the countdown to england's euros semifinal continues. we'll be live from wembley as the countdown to england's euros

semifinal continues. more than 200 bonfires have been built in northern ireland ahead of the annual?12th ofjuly?celebrations this year, and they're getting bigger than ever. the loyalist tradition which celebrates the victory of a protestant king over a catholic king at the battle of the boyne in 1690, can cause tensions between communities in some areas, but for others it's an important way to celebrate british culture in northern ireland. 0ur correspondent emma vardy has been to see one of the huge bonfires being built. layer upon layer, built by hand, this bonfire has grown into gigantic proportions. the much—prized structure has been constructed by the community in craigyhill, and they're hoping it'll be the largest bonfire in northern ireland. it's roughly, at the moment, reached 70 feet. so we're hoping to get maybe 120. what's the secret to building a bonfire like this?

top secret. what's no secret is that this is precarious work. bonfire builders scale its height to add more pallets on top. it's more than 250 pallets tall. so the guys who go right on top there, are theyjust the most experienced, or the fittest, or...? most of the people who are working on here have been at it since they were kids. and the next generation are already learning. we were helping build the base and stuff. we're hoping for a world record. going for a record? yeah. usually, pallets are passed up the bonfire by hand, but today they have some assistance. this is a pretty serious construction project, and the community have raised £20,000 for all those pallets to make it happen. it's a great source of pride, it's a statement of identity. but every year, bonfires will also cause a bit of contention. community representatives in north belfast are trying to calm tensions

over a bonfire which has been built at an interface between the mainly protestant and mainly catholic area. and political leaders have condemned a bonfire in portadown, where election posters were burnt along with irish and palestinian flags. that's clearly promotion of hate, and i think there's a hugejob of work to be done in order to bring these more provocative acts to an end. but this bonfire in craigyhill gets support regarding safety from the local council and receives funding to hold a family day for children before it goes up in flames. it's just part of the culture we carry on, and we want to retain that culture. some of the bonfires will burn the irish flag. what do you say about those bonfires that people will argue could cause offence? well, that goes on on both sides. on 15th august, you'll get a bonfire on the catholic side. they will put flags up and they'll burn things. it's just the way things are here, you know? symbolic of the strongly held traditions in loyalist areas of northern ireland that,

farfrom diminishing with time, are this year larger than ever. emma vardy, bbc news, larne. haiti's presidentjovenel moise has been killed in an attack in the nation's capital. the president's home was said to be stormed by unidentified armed men around 1am local time. the first lady was also injured in the attack. the interim president has called for calm and declared a state of emergency. one of the most celebrated actors in indian cinema, dilip kumar, has died at the age of 98. his roles from the 1940s onwards won him more awards than any other indian performer. india's prime minister, narendra modi, said his death was a "loss to the cultural world". the government is relaxing the rules on a temporary basis to allow lorry drivers to work for longer without a break. unions and businesses have been reporting a shortage of workers. during the pandemic thousands of european drivers went home and many hgv driving

tests were postponed. it has been confirmed that an extra £20 a week, which was added to universal credit during the pandemic, will be phased out in the autumn. 0ur correspondent nick eardley is in westminster — and that decision is causing some unease amongst backbenchers? it is, because this money has been seen as a lifeline for many during the pandemic. it's £1000 a year and that can beat 5% of household incomes but there was a feeling in the conservative party that decision may not be the right one, there are some former ministers, former work and pensions secretaries who are worried it's the wrong decision, they have called for the uplift to be determined, there are tory mps some of whom won their seats from labour in traditional heartlands in 2019 for the first time, worried about the impact this might have but

borisjohnson was pretty clear this afternoon that he thinks the focus should now be on betterjobs rather than more welfare, as the treasury tries to get a grip of public spending again, not the focus should start to move on and as restrictions and, so too, he thinks, should some of those interventions in the economy. to the tennis, and novak djokovic has sailed into the semifinals of wimbledon but roger federer has been knocked out in straight sets. joe wilson has been watching the action. some part to fill the hours before kick—off, wimbledon offered excitement can burst on centre court, novak djokovic, 3—0 against unseeded hungarian marton fucsovics. djokovic through to another semifinal, heading towards potentially at his six final, closer to roger federer. roger federer�*s

eight title stand above any male player here in history but what of the here and now? the map nearest the here and now? the map nearest the camera is poland's hubert hurkacz, seeded 14 and moving in for a winner. with points like that, hurkacz took the first set. six feet five can be effective at the net. roger federer is a one—man tennis tourist industry. they come to watch this but the second set went to a tie—break and at points when it seemed fedor was poised to show he is as good as ever... he seemed fedor was poised to show he is as good as ever. . .— seemed fedor was poised to show he is as good as ever. . .- he i is as good as ever... he slept! he is as good as ever... he slept! he is 39, is as good as ever... he slept! he is 39. he — is as good as ever... he slept! he is 39. he is _ is as good as ever... he slept! he is 39, he is human _ is as good as ever. .. he slept! he is 39, he is human but— is as good as ever... he slept! he is 39, he is human but it - is as good as ever... he slept! he is 39, he is human but it still i is 39, he is human but it still comes as a shock to see it, second set to hurkacz. that roger federer we saw in the first set was still trying to summon something but finding nothing. he had prioritised this tournament, done all he could

to be ready for wimbledon but he himself had questioned his ability to compete and here was the answer in the starkest score, 6—0 and in straight sets, roger federer gong. huge credit to hubert hurkacz, who has clearly produced the performance of his life and just as when roger federer first of his life and just as when roger federerfirst came to of his life and just as when roger federer first came to wimbledon 20 years ago and changed fedor —— tennis, the sport will always need new players to keep things moving but when centre court gave roger federer a standing ovation a few minutes ago they did so in the expectation it was for the last time. joe wilson at wimbledon, thank you. back now to wembley, and a final thought from our sports editor dan roan before england will take on denmark tonight — can they do it? we are about to find out, certainly they will be full of confidence and

momentum but history beckons for the england players. it doesn't get much bigger than this, they know if they can win it they will be elevated to legendary status the like of which are very few england players in the past have ever experienced. that team of 1966 who know what it's like to walk out here for the final of a major tournament. losing semifinals has become part of england's and that he, italia 1990, has become part of england's and that he, italia1990, euro 96 and russia a few years ago but this feels bigger, there is more confidence and optimism, they would not be surprise if england were to prevail, there have been no real dramas, an unfamiliar sense of serenity about this campaign. we don't yet know what happens to england if they face adversity and concede the first goal, then we will see what they are made of and maybe that will happen this evening but they know in front of 60,000 fans at wembley they have a wonderful chance

to progress, now they must seize it. dan roan, thank you. time for a look at the weather. here's sarah keith—lucas. we had a bit of sunshine at wembley and much of the uk has seen blue sky but there have also been heavy showers, this picture from worcester showing there was a big shower clouds and we will keep that theme in the next few days so some sunshine and scattered heavy showers around so let's look at the radar, this is where we have seen the heavy downpours especially for the south west of england, wales and eastern scotland and some of those have produced thunder and lightning but most state north of london so the england semifinal at wembley should stay dry, just an outside chance of a light shower over the next hour or so but these heavy showers will fade away into the evening and overnight, it could be a rumble of thunder in

the east in the next few