Sterling’s superb goal was the d-Raheem start for England’s Euro 2020 campaign

PHEW, what a scorcher! And we’re not just talking about the weather.

Sterling’s superb goal to beat Croatia was the d-Raheem start for England’s Euro 2020 campaign.

Raheem Sterling was just the man to get England a victory in an opening Euros match for the first time in ten attemptsCredit: Getty

Football’s certainly coming home for the lad who grew up close to Wembley.

The star, who was recently awarded the MBE for his anti-racism work, was just the man to get England a victory in an opening Euros match for the first time in ten attempts.

Fans absolutely loved it, and how good was it to see and hear a Wembley crowd cheering once more?

The biggest roar, beside the one for the goal, was for the arrival of people’s hero Marcus Rashford, already an MBE for his campaigns against child hunger and homelessness.

It’s only the first match, of course, but our dream of gongs for the whole team at the end of the tournament is still alive.

Delta v data

WE like to hope Prime Minister Boris Johnson was playing to the very final whistle last night as he held out for a late win in the battle to save Freedom Day next week.

Bombarded by gloomy SAGE scientists predicting apocalyptic Covid case numbers from the Delta variant, all the signs are that he will delay the lifting of restrictions until July 19, as predicted.

Boris Johnson has insisted he and his team were still looking at the data before an announcement on restrictions liftingCredit: AFP

But yesterday he was cagier than a 0-0 draw as he insisted he and his team were still looking at the data before an announcement today.

He knows full well that delaying Freedom Day will cost the economy and desperate businesses billions of pounds.

The vaccine is our match-winner. He just needs to see the evidence and trust it.

Bangers & clash

IF Mr Johnson has been trying to get “our friends” in the EU to understand that Northern Ireland is part of the UK, he is wasting his breath.

They already know.

Boris Johnson is wasting his breath trying to get 'our friends' in the EU to understand that Northern Ireland is part of the UK — Boris Johnson is wasting his breath trying to get ‘our friends’ in the EU to understand that Northern Ireland is part of the UKCredit: Getty

They are just using the “Sausage War” as a stick to beat Brexit Britain.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was much nearer the mark when he called out the EU’s blatant disrespect.

It’s a measure of useless French President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopularity at home that he tries to distract voters by picking a fight with Britain.

That hasn’t always ended well for France.

H…..RH?

THE Queen was addicted to Line of Duty.

Her Majesty is a fan of the showCredit: AP

Could that explain Her Majesty’s new enthusiasm for forensically dismantling the “mistruths” about the Royal Family coming from the OCG — Organised Carping Group — across the pond?

We suspect, in this case, the identity of “H” is not a mystery to her.

Gareth Southgate reacts to England’s victory against Croatia in their Euro 2020 opener

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