Millions celebrate historic England football win as Aussies are stuck in Sydney Covid-19 lockdown

Millions of Britons packed bars and pubs and celebrated wildly as the England football team secured a place in the Euro 2020 final after beating Denmark 2-1 during a nail-biting showdown on Wednesday night.

In London’s Wembley stadium, 52,000 England fans leapt onto their seats and waved large flags while thousands watching in Trafalgar Square hugged, danced and sang into the small hours. 

Some 17,000km away in Australia, 5million Sydneysiders woke up to their thirteenth day of lockdown which has forced restaurants and shops to pull down their shutters and left the city resembling a ghost town.

The stark contrast proved how Covid-19 vaccinations are crucial to returning to normal after the pandemic. 

Millions of Britons packed bars and pubs and celebrated wildly as the England football team secured a place in the Euro 2020 final. Pictured: Fans in Croydon, London celebrate England’s first goal

A pedestrian wearing a face mask makes their way along a street in the suburb of Crows Nest in Sydney on Wednesday

A pedestrian wearing a face mask makes their way along a street in the suburb of Crows Nest in Sydney on Wednesday

Fourteen of Wednesday's new cases in Sydney had been infectious in the community, prompting Premier Gladys Berejiklian to keep schools closed and restaurants and shops shut until Friday July 16. Pictured: Tap Rooms pub in The Rocks

Fourteen of Wednesday’s new cases in Sydney had been infectious in the community, prompting Premier Gladys Berejiklian to keep schools closed and restaurants and shops shut until Friday July 16. Pictured: Tap Rooms pub in The Rocks

One fan was seen sporting face paint as she waved the England flag in the air and cheered on the Three Lions at Boxpark in Croydon, London

One fan was seen sporting face paint as she waved the England flag in the air and cheered on the Three Lions at Boxpark in Croydon, London

In London's Wembley stadium (pictured), 52,000 England fans leapt onto their seats and waved flags while thousands watching in Trafalgar Square hugged, danced and sang into the small hours

In London’s Wembley stadium (pictured), 52,000 England fans leapt onto their seats and waved flags while thousands watching in Trafalgar Square hugged, danced and sang into the small hours

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie waved to crowds ahead of the game. In contrast, Australian PM Scott Morrison has not been seen in public in six days

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie waved to crowds ahead of the game. In contrast, Australian PM Scott Morrison has not been seen in public in six days

Australia only recorded 42 cases on Thursday with 38 in Sydney but has only vaccinated 9.81 per cent of adults, meaning state governments still want to use lockdowns to prevent the disease from spreading rapidly

Australia only recorded 42 cases on Thursday with 38 in Sydney but has only vaccinated 9.81 per cent of adults, meaning state governments still want to use lockdowns to prevent the disease from spreading rapidly

In an extraordinary vaccine rollout, the UK has doubled-jabbed 64.6 per cent of its adults, allowing the nation to drop Covid restrictions on July 19 despite recording 32,548 cases and 33 deaths on Wednesday. 

The UK government says the link between cases and deaths has been ‘severed’ because vaccines prevent serious illness. 

Meanwhile, Australia only recorded 42 cases on Thursday but has only vaccinated 9.81 per cent of adults, meaning state governments still want to use lockdowns to prevent the disease from spreading rapidly. 

The rollout has been slow due to a lack of supply and changing medical advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is recommended only for over 60s. 

It means that while football stadiums and Wimbledon’s tennis courts are packed with fans in the UK, Sydney has lost its AFL games and NRL is being played with no fans. 

The Victorian government blamed the slow vaccine rollout on Tuesday as it cancelled the Australian F1 Grand Prix due in November. 

Sydney went into a two-week lockdown on June 25 over an outbreak of 65 cases of the highly contagious Delta strain which has now infected 395, prompting a week-long extension of the shut down.   

Scenes of jubilation erupted across the country as England secured their place in the Euro 2020 final after beating Denmark 2-1 during a nail-biting showdown tonight

Scenes of jubilation erupted across the country as England secured their place in the Euro 2020 final after beating Denmark 2-1 during a nail-biting showdown tonight

In Wembley, crowds of fans leapt onto their seats and waves their flags as as Gareth Southgate's squad beat their rivals following a nerve-shredding Wembley thriller

In Wembley, crowds of fans leapt onto their seats and waves their flags as as Gareth Southgate’s squad beat their rivals following a nerve-shredding Wembley thriller

In Liverpool hundreds of fans leapt for joy as England secured their spot in the final of the Euro 2020 game

In Liverpool hundreds of fans leapt for joy as England secured their spot in the final of the Euro 2020 game 

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the decision to extend lockdown – which will cost the state $1billion a week – was ‘difficult’ but taken to stop the state ‘living in and out of lockdown’ until more people are vaccinated.

‘The reason why the New South Wales government has taken this position is because we don’t want to be in a situation where we are constantly having to move between lockdown, no lockdown, lockdown, no lockdown,’ she said. 

‘What we want to do is give us our best chance of making sure this is the only lockdown we have until the vast majority of our citizens are vaccinated. 

‘We know the vaccine is the key to our freedom. The vaccine is key to saving lives and keeping the economy open.’ 

Sydney recorded 38 more cases on Thursday. There 40 Covid-19 cases in hospital, with 11 people in intensive care, three of whom require ventilation.

The federal government aims to offer all Australians a first dose of the jab before the end of the year after millions of Pfizer doses arrive from September.  

Aussies could be offered jabs in their offices or even their local Bunnings as the rollout expands. 

In Manchester hundreds of supporters jumped into the air and threw confetti into the air as they joined thousands across the nation in the celebrations

In Manchester hundreds of supporters jumped into the air and threw confetti into the air as they joined thousands across the nation in the celebrations

Fans carried the England flag as they stood on top of a double decker bus in central London tonight following England's win

Fans carried the England flag as they stood on top of a double decker bus in central London tonight following England’s win 

Fans in Liverpool appear nervous as they watch Gareth Southgate's squad play Denmark during the semi-final game at Wembley Stadium

Fans in Liverpool appear nervous as they watch Gareth Southgate’s squad play Denmark during the semi-final game at Wembley Stadium 

Fans in Manchester

Fans in Trafalgar Square

In Manchester(left), fans leapt out of their seats at England scored a second goal and in Trafalgar Square fans waved their flags in the air (right)

Fans in Manchester react to England's first goal as they watch the Euro 2020 semi final match between England and Denmark

Fans in Manchester react to England’s first goal as they watch the Euro 2020 semi final match between England and Denmark

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