AS ENGLAND prepares to take on Colombia in the World Cup, the Daily Echo takes a look back at the last time the two teams clashed on the international stage.

It’s a scoreline remembered not just because England fans rejoiced as their team made it through to the final 16 - but because Kirsty MacColl wrote a song about it. MacColl’s England 2 Colombia 0 may have been a downbeat affair - but it’s quite the opposite of the memories that night holds for many.

The partying began at 8.20pm on June 25, 1998, when Darren Anderton scored a sensational opening goal for England.

Hundreds of thousands in the area joined millions across the nation in pubs, clubs and living rooms to celebrate the country’s crucial 2-0 win over Colombia.

At Hot Shots sports bar in Southampton’s Leisure World, a capacity 1,100 crowd collectively glued their eyes to the big screens amid a cacophony of whistles and renditions of chart-topping songs - Vindaloo and Three Lions - along with, randomly, Do The Conga.

Millbrook football fan Michaella Brown, 20, told the Echo at the time: “What a fantastic evening, The atmosphere has been excellent - England were brilliant.”

Sally Greenway, Leisure World spokeswoman, said: “We were near to capacity by 5.30pm. Safety was our main concern and there have been long queues. The crowd have been well behaved and we are looking forward to Tuesday’s clash with Argentina.”

Sadly for England fans - when their team battled Argentina on June 30, 1998, they drew 2-2 before being beaten 4-3 in penalties.