History created by hand of Pickford
REDEMPTION After three previous failures, England end curse of penalties to set up quarterfinal against Sweden
gone before. They have created their own history, and I don’t want to go home yet,” he added.
Home is still far off and Southgate will now need to focus on playing Sweden in the quarter-final to keep alive the bid to end a 52-year wait for a World Cup.
The game itself had been a drab affair. With creative engine James Rodriguez missing despite coach Jose Pekerman claiming he could be fit to play, Colombia resorted to skullduggery.
While Wilmar Barrios was surprisingly shown just a yellow for a head-butt on Henderson in the first half, Colombia’s physical approach fetched five more bookings.
It could perhaps have been more but at his post-match press conference, Pekerman instead accused England of diving.
“We shouldn’t only look at Colombian players. People should look at England players. I wish I was wrong but I think from the next match England will be much more careful,” he said.
“We are getting smarter. Maybe we played by the same rules as the rest of the world. But we kept our dignity and our sportsmanship and if we were down, it was because we were fouled. I am proud of the discipline,” Southgate responded.
Colombia’s disruptive tactics were often aimed at the referee too. When Carlos Sanchez brought Harry Kane down inside the box, Colombia held up play by a couple of minutes to argue their case. If it was also meant to disturb Kane, it didn’t work.
Colombia’s first major chance didn’t come until the 81st minute when Juan Cuadrado went over from a counter-attack.
Then, three minutes into injury-time, Yerry Mina headed in his third goal of the tournament to make it 1-1. There were many who felt England would crack under pressure as penalties ensued.
This time, however, Southgate’s side got the job done.