‘Watching England is emotional’: fans celebrate win over DR Congo

Big screen fan zone for the World Cup England v DR Congo at Prospect Building in Bristol. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Big screen fan zone for the World Cup England v DR Congo at Prospect Building in Bristol. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian ‘Watching England is emotional’: fans celebrate win over DR Congo Hundreds watched England in first round of knockout stages at Prospect Building in Bristol World Cup live – latest updates Sisters Angela and Christine hugged, danced and shed a tear or two at the final whistle as England squeezed past the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). “That was brilliant,” said Christine, a 51-year-old lifeguard. “Watching England is exhausting, emotional, often heart-breaking but we love it. You’ve got to relish the ups and downs.” Angela, 53, who used to coach a girls’ team, said it was “sort of fun”. “I knew Harry Kane would come good in the end,” she said. “Wonderful.” Her daughter, Jodie, 29, wearing a Wayne Rooney shirt, said a treasured family memory was her standing on a pub bench when she was a toddler yelling” Shearer! Shearer!” “Football is just great. We love nights like this,” she said. View image in fullscreen Gracie Collet and Shanika Meggoe celebrate England’s win. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian The trio were among the hundreds who watched England in the first round of the knockout stages of the world cup on big screens at the Prospect Building in Bristol, said to be a former torpedo testing site, now a cavernous event space behind Temple Meads station. Shanika, 21, a flight attendant, said she thought England could go to the final. “It’s us v France,” I reckon, she said. But she admitted she had been impressed by England’s opponents. “My heart dropped when the DRC scored,” she said. “But when Kane got the winner, it was just: ‘Oh my god!’” Her friend, Gracie, 20, also an airline worker, said she wished England had brought along other creative players such as Cole Palmer and Phil Foden. “But we’ve had a great night. There’s always something with England – it’s never easy.” Dave Wooldridge, the event host, said the World Cup excitement had grown in Bristol with the start of the knock-out stage. There are a growing number of England flags on pubs, houses and cars and there was certainly an early rush hour as people rushed from work to catch the game. Wooldridge said his main job was to lead the cheer-leading for England but also to be respectful towards the DRC, whose country is coping with war and ebola . “Yes, it’s about England and I don’t want to sound corny but it’s also about the world, different cultures coming together. The DRC team is a beacon of hope for the country.” England’s bright start was greeted with excitement – the seventh minute DR Congo goal was met with a shocked silence. There were howls of frustration followed when England gave away a string of fouls and were guilty of a series of sloppy passes. The first half hydration break