CHRIS FOY: England arrived in France with little hope but Red Roses won hearts and minds in...
Daily Mail England fans who came to Stade Velodrome on Saturday night had to endure a lot just to make it to their seats, but ended up with a full return on that uncomfortable effort.
Those present to support the underdogs became part of a re-connection event between team and public. It felt like a watershed. By the end, they were dancing in the stands. Hours later, they were still singing in the streets outside.
Coaches and players had spoken about wanting to get the English nation behind them and they did that in spades in this logic-defying World Cup opener. Anyone quibbling about a win founded solely on kicking points wasnt there to witness this in person; the gutsy performance and the striking scenes all around it.
When England did their lap of honour, the noise was remarkable. It was an out-pouring of joy at seeing something positive at last, after so much despondency. People had come with little hope but left euphoric.
Before kick-off, England supporters had booed Borthwick when his name was announced in the stadium. That wont happen again any time soon. They had also sat quiet and passive as Argentine fans chanted and bounced in the stands, but by the end it was an English cacophony. There was bedlam when George Ford landed his second drop goal; the astonishing one from halfway.
