Shootout victory a ‘huge moment’

Gareth Southgate has hailed the penalty shoot-out victory over Colombia as a “huge moment” in the history of English football which will have significant consequences for future generations of players.

The England manager revealed that he had sat his squad down before the last-16 tie and reminded them that many had come through the lower leagues to earn the chance to play on this, the highest stage.

“We play with character and I love that about them,” Southgate said, promising it was just the start of something for a young squad “who are only going to get better”.

Although England are only in the World Cup quarter-finals, where they will face Sweden in the heat of Samara today afternoon, the importance of finally winning a shoot-out at a major tournament for the first time since Euro 96 cannot be underestimated, not least because of the psychological burden that has hopefully, finally, been lifted and the impact it has had on a nation desperate for success. Or at least a different story.

“It’s an important moment for everybody in our country, really. You know you are standing there and if we don’t get through from a game we played so well in, you know you will continue the history and mindset for teams to come,” Southgate said. He added that the intelligent football England played was important in what also felt like a home game for Colombia, given the vast number of their fans inside the stadium.