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
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
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
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
