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Steve Bruce signed Harry Maguire for Hull City in 2014 and sent him on loan to Wigan before Maguire established himself in the Tigers' defence.

Bruce, now Aston Villa manager, was speaking to BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme earlier.

"Our chief scout at the time, Stan Ternent, said we needed to have a look at him. By the time he was 21 he had something like 150 appearances."

While Harry Kane had a loan spell at Leyton Orient, Harry Maguire played in the Championship and League One for Sheffield United.

And here are England's two Harrys after yesterday's game..

Image source, Getty Images

On that note, we've taken the time to construct a piece that focuses on the unlikely lads helping England plot a course towards the World Cup final.

Gone are the household names of the 'Golden Generation' and in their place is a squad featuring players who have plied their trade at the likes of Darlington, Alfreton, Halifax, Welling and Aldershot.

Sound of interest? Read more here.

Who would have thought it? From Brisbane Road to the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and a World Cup semi-final...it's been quite a ride for England captain Harry Kane.

Not just extraordinary Steve...one might even say humongous

Right, some viewing figures from yesterday, which, frankly, are extraordinary!

England's World Cup quarter-final victory over Sweden attracted a huge 89% of available audience to BBC One, with a peak of 19.9m.

The match received an incredible 3.9m programme requests online - on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport - with a record 3.8m of them live, making it the BBC's highest online-viewed live programme, ever.

I told you it was mightily impressive stuff.

Image source, Reuters

Joe Hillier: Pickford's statue would have to be made of elastic.

Harrison Short: I want to see a knighthood for Mr. Southgate, and OBEs for Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford. Maybe MBEs for the rest.

Image source, Twitter

How about a Buckingham Palace fly-by? We called it!!

And remember your question about retiring 'Three Lions', Tom? Watch the clip to the end and it seems Ian Broudie is already working on a new version...spooky!!

And how are the forces going to top this if England win it?

By our reckoning, only seven members of the current squad were born when England played in the 1990 semi-finals...Danny Rose was only born two days before!

Talk of the 1990 semi-final brings back primary school memories for some of us eh Ben.

And of course all those painful exits since. Less so with the England squad however. Now we're feeling old!

Richard Hill: PM questions: Prime minister, is football coming home? Yes, it is! Followed by all the English MPs singing 'It's Coming Home'

Tom Neil: If football does come home, do we retire the song?

Good question, Tom. Maybe Baddiel and Skinner will have to give Ian Broudie a bell about recording a new one?

Crikey Ben. I mean it rolls off the tongue doesn't it. Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst..... Sir Fabian Delph.

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

As for the reaction in his native Sweden, current Norway boss Lars Lagerback also told Sportsweek:

"In Sweden the so-called experts are saying Sweden didn’t do a good game but you have to see what the opponents are doing.

"I think England tactically did a really good game. England have good variation with the speed they have in the attacking part."

On that subject Steve, can you imagine what it's going to be like when England do finally come home?

I mean, what if they actually win it. We going to see a Sir Jordan Henderson?

Dani Setiawan: Give Jordan Pickford a statue. Make it a bit taller than he really is, he deserves it.

Andrew Faulkner: I think you should do a documentary on his rise.... And call it "from Russia with glove."

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

Right, how about a view from the opposite camp?

Well, Lars Lagerback may be the current manager of Norway but he plotted England's downfall as Iceland manager at the Euros in 2016 and was in charge of Sweden for nine years prior to that.

Speaking to the Sportsweek programme on BBC Radio 5 live, he said:

"I think it’s interesting what [Gareth] Southgate has done, bringing in a lot of young players. Maybe that is the explanation for why they are really putting in a good team performance now."

Now if this doesn't sum up the mood of the nation....I don't know what does.

That Andrew Marr show has even had a World Cup makeover.....

William Tomaney: Don’t think we should harp on about a “kind draw”. In 2002 Germany beat Paraguay, USA, and S Korea to get to the final and they got all the praise, and so should we. Besides these sides aren’t always easier to beat.

Orlamih: This is the best England squad I’ve ever seen in years now... thank you Gareth Southgate for not making the tournament boring as ever.

Shaun McCann: The pleasing thing about this England side is that so little was expected of them after previous tournament disappointments yet they've gone out and seized the opportunity presented to them with both hands. It's Coming Home!

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 live

Croatia were my outside bets. I watched Croatia against Denmark. They were gone and it went to penalties. Then against Russia they were gone and it went to penalties.

Gareth Southgate said yesterday, ‘the cards have fallen for us’. That’s an understatement. It’s amazing how well they’ve fallen for England.

And if you are England, you look at Croatia, they are getting weaker, they are getting more tired, while England look stronger and younger with every game.