DEJECTED JAPAN CAPTAIN HASEBE CALLS IT QUITS

Japan captain Makoto Hasebe has announced his retirement from the national team, on the heels of the squad’s heartbreaking ejection from the World Cup in a match against Belgium. “I have decided to end the chapter of my career with the national team with this tournament,” Hasebe wrote on his Instagram account. The 34-yearold defensive midfielder’s departure from the Blue Samurai could mean a changing of the guard for the team, with former AC Milan striker Keisuke Honda, 32, also saying he plans to retire from the national squad. Hasebe, who won the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt last season, has been on the national team for more than 12 years under five coaches. This year’s World Cup is his third, after South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014, and saw his team come heart-stoppingly close to the quarterfinals before crashing out against Belgium. The team will head next to the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates early next year, and may also be looking for a new coach. Akira Nishino, who took over months before the World Cup after the controversial firing of his predecessor Vahid Halilhodzic, has been tight-lipped on his plans despite reports he could be replaced.

When the referee blew the final whistle at the end of extra-time at the Otkritie Arena here on Tuesday evening, there were a few fist bumps among the Colombia players and coaching staff.

England, in contrast, seemed to be in a sombre mood. Because penalties loomed and they weren’t known to do that very well.

To the long penalties’ phobia, there was a personal connection here. Twenty-two years ago when England lost to Germany and exited from the European championships, it was Gareth Southgate’s missed penalty that had caused it. That night at Wembley had ended in tears for Southgate.

The England shirt has been replaced by a shiny waist-coat but when Jordan Henderson’s penalty was saved, it looked like the England manager would be in for another night of pain.

Then Mateus Uribe missed and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved Carlos Bacca’s effort. Eric Dier then held his nerve to secure England’s passage to the last-eight.

Southgate leapt in joy. It was his night as much as it was Pickford’s whose save meant that England won a penalty shootout for the first time in the World Cup after three failures.

“Missing my penalty (in 1996) will never be off my back, sadly. That’s something that will live with me forever. But today is a special moment for this team. It will, hopefully, give belief to the generations of players that will follow. We always have to believe in what is possible in life and not be hindered by history or expectations,” said Southgate.

“Tonight they showed they don’t have to conform to what’s

TOKYO: MOSCOW:

Regulation time:

Kane 57'