Russia is certainly drawing all eyes! This year’s FIFA World Cup has been an absolute delight to watch, and the action is only ramping up as we progress through the knockout stages.
The Round-of-16 has just ended and the teams to qualify for the quarter-finals have been decided. The final team who made it is England, who beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties after regulation and extra time ended 1-1. The deciding moment in their closely fought game was Eric Dier’s penalty shot, the fifth and final one.
This is the first time England make it through to the quarterfinals of the World Cup since 2006, and reverses many trends including their disappointing returns on prior penalty shootouts. The only shootout they had won at a major event since 1990 was against Spain at Euro 1996, in 7 tries.
The only reason that the game went so long was Yerry Mina’s last gasp equaliser in the 93rd minute, after England had taken the lead in the 57th minute through a Harry Kane penalty.
It was the England captain’s sixth goal in this World Cup and extended his lead for the Golden Boot. Three of those goals have come from the penalty spot.
By the time the game came down to penalties, England had recovered their composure in the thirty minutes of extra time. However, they were in a precarious position after 3 spot-kicks were taken, with Jordan Henderson’s effort being saved by David Ospina to give the Colombians a 3-2 lead.
But Colombia’s Mateus Uribe bounced his shot harmlessly off the crossbar, and Carlos Bacca’s shot was saved by Jordan Pickford, the English keeper. Kieran Tripper and Eric Dier ignited celebrations with England’s fourth and fifth shots hitting the back of the net.
Colombia will be disappointed after not qualifying for the quarters, to match their best ever effort at the World Cup in Brazil 2014. England will now face Sweden on Saturday, 7 July, for a spot in the semi-finals.
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