Kyle Walker pays special tribute to wife Annie Kilner and their four children as they ‘follow his every move’ during England’s triumphant march to Euro 2024 semi-final

Things look set to go well for Gareth Southgate’s England at Euro 2024.

Last-minute wonder goals, triumphant penalty shootouts and dubious penalty decisions have seen Southgate’s Three Lions reach the final of this tournament despite their football being cautious at best and mediocre at worst.

But if winning is a constant theme for England, so too is vice-captain Kyle Walker’s pre-match ritual, which was evident in all five games leading up to Wednesday’s semi-final triumph.

And that was evident again as Walker prepared for his 89th England cap in a 2-1 win over the Netherlands, a victory that put his team in the history books for reaching their first final on foreign soil.

The 34-year-old Manchester City defender has repeatedly shown that his children and wife Annie Kilner, 30, are his biggest priority, making an ‘R’ symbol – the first letter of their four children’s names – with his fingers during every game.

The full-back has repeatedly shown that his children with wife Annie Kilner are his biggest priority by making an ‘R’ symbol with his fingers – the first letter of the names of their four children

A source told MailOnline about the reason behind his gesture: ‘He always makes sure to thank his family, who travel all the way from home to support him and the squad before every game.

“The boys follow his every move and are so proud of their dad. It motivates him to know they are there.”

Walker and Kilner are parents to sons Roman, 11, Riaan, 7, Reign, 5, and newborn Rezon, who the couple welcomed in April.

The couple are trying to save their marriage after Walker admitted to fathering a now 10-month-old daughter with influencer Lauryn Goodman, 33, without them being married.

Walker is also the father of Goodman’s four-year-old son Kairo, after she became pregnant in 2020 and briefly split from Kilner.

The source added: ‘Annie has been an incredible mother and family woman through it all, and he knows that and wants to make sure they all know he sees and appreciates them.

‘He misses the boys at the England training camp immensely but is also incredibly proud to be part of such a strong team that now looks set to take home the trophy.’

The award-winning footballer, who is playing in his fifth consecutive tournament with England, is also father to four-year-old son Kairo and ten-month-old daughter with influencer Lauryn Goodman.

‘He always makes sure he has a nod to his family who travel from home to cheer him and the squad on before every game,’ a source told MailOnline

Walker went to the stands to be with his family after the 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday evening

Kilner gave birth to the couple’s fourth child in April, with Manchester City and England footballer Walker at her side.

The past few months have been a rollercoaster ride after she discovered he had fathered a second child with Goodman in December last year. Walker moved out of their Cheshire home in January.

The influencer is accused of deliberately stoking a public feud with Walker after he reportedly missed his son Kairo’s 4th birthday so that the attention would remain on her.

England’s quarter-final victory over Switzerland on July 6 was overshadowed by Goodman’s final social media activity, when Kilner supported her husband in Düsseldorf.

Southgate’s men reached their third semi-final under his leadership after beating a strong Switzerland side on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

Kilner, however, seemed less impressed as Walker, who was earning his 88th England cap, sat next to her in the stands at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf.

Sources claim her mood took a turn for the worse after influencer Lauryn Goodman shared photos of her two children wearing Kyle ‘Daddy’ England shirts.

An insider told MailOnline: ‘Insiders at England’s training camp say they’ve had enough of the off-field distractions Lauryn creates.’

The 34-year-old makes an ‘R’ symbol with his hands – the initial of his and Kilner’s children

The couple enjoyed an icy reunion in the stands after England’s epic penalty win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals

Walker’s ex-mistress Lauryn Goodman has been sharing ongoing content on social media about the competition and posted a photo of their two children wearing ‘Daddy’ England shirts

Sources claim the England team have had enough of Goodman’s constant distractions off the field (pictured: Walker and Kilner after England’s quarter-final win on July 6)

‘They know Annie and Kyle have tried to resolve the situation privately and discreetly, in the best interests of all the children involved, but she continues to pull stunts, such as drawing attention to the fact that she is going to the European Championships.

This is something they have had to live with for the past four years.

‘Kyle wants to protect Annie and their boys at all costs. Whatever happens between them as a couple in the future, they both agree that this is a priority.

“A big part of that is to protect them from the media speculation and the circus surrounding the situation.”