Ipswich Town legend and former England manager Sir Bobby Robson would have been “thrilled” by England’s World Cup success, according to his widow Lady Elsie.

%image(15316994, type="article-full", alt="Lady Elsie said her late husband Sir Bobby Robson would be willing Gareth Southgate's team on "with every fibre of his being" Picture: SIR BOBBY ROBSON FOUNDATION")

Sir Bobby, who led England to their last World Cup semi-final in Italy in 1990, saw his team fall at the last hurdle when they were beaten by West Germany on penalties.

His legendary 1990 squad featured some of England’s finest players, including Peter Shilton, Terry Butcher and Gary Lineker.

And now Sir Bobby’s spirit lives on in Gareth Southgate’s team – as Lady Elsie said he would be cheering on the squad “with every fibre of his being” when they take on Croatia in the side’s biggest match of the century, taking place at 7pm this evening.

Reflecting on England reaching their first semi-final in the World Cup since her husband was at the helm in 1990, Lady Elsie said: “Bob would be thrilled by the progress of this talented England team. Representing his country as a player and a manager meant the world to him and I know he’d be enjoying every minute of this World Cup.

“Bob was immensely proud to reach the semi-finals at Italia 90 and bitterly disappointed not to go further. He’d be willing Gareth Southgate and the England team to go all the way in Russia with every fibre of his being.”

Lady Elsie, who has been greatly enjoying watching the World Cup herself, is well known for fronting the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, a charity dedicated to finding more effective ways to detect and treat cancer.

Sir Bobby, who launched the Foundation in 2008, described his charity as his “last and greatest team”.

Now in its 10th year, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has raised over £12million to date – and Lady Elsie took pride of place at its most recent fundraising event.

The 16-mile charity walk from Ovington to Newburn and back was undertaken by 40 walkers on Saturday, July 7 – made all the more sweet by England’s victory against Sweden in their tense quarter final tie.

Lady Elsie said: “It’s marvellous that this fundraising event has supported our Foundation since our launch 10 years ago.

“They’ve raised a very significant amount of money in that time and we’re grateful to everyone involved. And I’m glad that the sunshine made it a perfect day for walking.”