The England football anthems you need ahead of this evening's game

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By ( Louder ) published

England play their first World Cup Semi Final since 1990 today – here are some essential football jams to get you in the mood

England won the World Cup once, you know. You might have heard the English people mention it once or twice over the years. But this year, at the Russian World Cup 2018, it's the year. It's the year football's coming home. 

Let's be honest: we never thought it'd get this far. But, as the wins kept on rolling in, the giants of the game fell left and right and all those ironic 'it's coming home memes' actually started to feel real, the all-new England squad somehow made it into the final four. 

Essentially, it's Russia 2018 and anything can happen. 

This evening's match between Croatia and England – which will decide which team will be joining France in the final – is sure to deliver as horrifically a nail-biting 90+ minutes of football as each of England's previous showdowns so far. 

To get you in the mood, we've complied a playlist of the finest England football songs from throughout the ages, from John Barnes' infamous rap in New Order's World In Motion, to that unforgettable union between Echo & The Bunnymen and The Spice Girls. They were just more innocent times, weren't they?

Also, anyone who says Vindaloo isn't a football song gets an instant red card. Blow that whistle, ref – we're off! 

Fat Les - Vindaloo

David Baddiel, Frank Skinner et al - Three Lions (It's Coming Home)

ChuggaBoom - Three Lions 18

Black Grape - England's Irie

New Order - World In Motion

The Farm - All Together Now 2004

Embrace - World At Your Feet

Ant & Dec - We're On The Ball

England United (Echo and the Bunnymen, Space, Spice Girls, Simon Fowler) - (How Does It Feel To Be) On Top Of The World

Shout For England - Dizzee Rascal and James Corden

England Football Team - All The Way

England World Cup Squad (1970) - Back Home

1982 England World Cup Squad - This Time, We'll Get It Right

Briony Edwards
Briony Edwards

Briony is the Editor in Chief of Louder and is in charge of sorting out who and what you see covered on the site. She started working with Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Prog magazines back in 2015 and has been writing about music and entertainment in many guises since 2009. Her favourite-ever interviewee is either Billy Corgan or Kim Deal. She is a big fan of cats, Husker Du and pizza.