England celebrate reaching Euro 2020 semi-finals by frolicking on inflatable unicorns

England reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and the feel-good factor clearly runs through the squad as they are one win away from reaching the national team’s first major final since 1966.

After Saturday’s 4-0 threshing of Ukraine in the quarter-finals at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, their first game of the tournament away from Wembley, Gareth Southgate’s side now face Denmark in the last four Wednesdays and will make it back home (LIVE on ESPN and ESPN + at 3 p.m. ET in the US).

The team returned to their base in St George’s Park on Sunday and enjoyed a day of rest and recovery. After suffocating in the heat of the Italian capital, some of the players rushed to the pool, where a few familiar faces were waiting to greet them.

pic.twitter.com/n2O6V3pugD

– England (@England) July 4, 2021

The inflatable unicorns that turned out to be a viral hit on England’s 2018 World Cup trip made a big comeback, and many of the new team members couldn’t wait get acquainted with the iconic inflatable structures.

Declan rice, Mason frame, Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho, Dominique Calvert-Lewin, Bukayo Saka, Sam johnstone and Aaron Ramsdale were all present – with Marcus Rashford, the only player to have been on the 2018 World Cup squad who first played with the unicorns, providing supervision to the adults.

As if he couldn’t be more adorable, Saka was having more fun than anyone else as he jumped into the pool on a unicorn back.

The 19-year-old Arsenal England’s player has been one of the tournament’s stars, and he’s clearly having the time of his life.

Manchester United New boy Sancho did his best to keep the air fresh while floating around the pool on his rainbow-colored ride.

But, after making his way through Ukrainian defenders on Saturday in his first start in the tournament, staying on top of his mount has proven too difficult.

Best buddies Rice and Mount were a great duo in the middle of the pool.

This guy scored the winning goal in the Champions League final just 37 days ago.

– Euro 2020 on ESPN: stream matches and replays LIVE (US only)
– European Soccer Pick ‘Em: Compete to Win $ 10,000
– Euro 2020 fixture list and schedule

---

We know you are very creative … so let’s see what you have.

It’s time for a photo editing challenge – @ BukayoSaka87 style! pic.twitter.com/7tRxd3ClAk

– England (@England) July 4, 2021

Saka’s image was so iconic that England invited fans and subscribers to create their own photoshoped images of the young.

You know what to do @bank of England. pic.twitter.com/GEj3RnFjY9

– Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) July 4, 2021

As you might expect, Twitter meme maestro Johnny Sharples was quick on the scene with a revised prototype of its banknote designnm You may remember his semi-serious campaign three years ago have a picture of Harry maguire riding a unicorn resting on the new £ 50 bank note. Sadly, the honor went instead to pioneering World War II computer scientist and code cracker Alan Turing, though Maguire must have led him closely in the Bank of England selection process.

“Look at my coming in the first light of the fifth day. At dawn, look east.” pic.twitter.com/ICFf2pmLcB

– James Benge (@jamesbenge) July 4, 2021

A mythical horse was traded for another as Saka on his unicorn replaced Gandalf mounted on Shadowfax in this excellent pastiche “The Lord of the Rings”.

pic.twitter.com/6sO7NafrLG

– Kick (@kickarHDHD) July 4, 2021

Another great film franchise-inspired effort – with Saka added to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the frontline of the final battle in “Avengers: Endgame” – that the player himself shared on his Instagram Story.

@ LukeShaw23 🦈🎥#ThreeLions # EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/TQa1JAEe5N

– Large matte designs (@MattLargeDesign) July 5, 2021

‘Jaws’ movie poster has been reworked to feature both Saka and England left-back Luke Shaw.

pic.twitter.com/lmjpkr1ARu

– Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) July 4, 2021

Saka also made his way into the famous celebration of Paul Gascoigne’s goal on the Euro 96 “dentist’s chair”.

pic.twitter.com/rmI0hiPy57

– bøøtifulgame (@bootifulgame) July 4, 2021

Other classic England moments occurred, with Saka defeating Peter Shilton to score with “the horn of God” at the 1986 World Cup.

WE HAVE DONE NOW PLEASE STOP TWEETING US pic.twitter.com/7iCpsDCACy

– No raffle (Sian & Alex) (@CheapPanini) July 4, 2021

The 19-year-old winger has also received the esteemed treatment of “poorly drawn Panini sticker”, which is just about the greatest honor a professional footballer can have.