Manager: We didn’t rise to provocation

MANAGER Gareth Southgate, hailed the value of England’s shootout preparation in Moscow.

“They are tough,” said Southgate, who famously missed the penalty that saw England eliminated from Euro 96.

“We talked long and hard about owning the process, they kept calm – great credit to all our staff and the players who’ve taken everything on board, and we got our reward today.

“We looked at individual technique, we looked at how we needed to be as a team. The goalkeeper’s very important in that.”

Southgate also praised the mental strength of his side in the face of provocation from Colombia.

Asked if the opposition’s approach was unexpected, he said: “I don’t know if I ‘didn’t expect it’ but we didn’t rise to it, which was brilliant.

“A couple of times we lost our cool a little bit but generally speaking we kept our nerve.

“Our fans that were here were brilliant but it was almost an away game, so to deal with all of that was exceptional.

“It’s something the players can always look back on now and draw on as an experience.

“We’ve talked about creating their own stories and creating their own history and we’ve done a little bit of that tonight. We go to a quarter-final, but I don’t want to go home yet.”

Jordan Pickford told ITV Sport: “I’ve got that power and agility to get around the goal – I don’t care if I’m not the biggest keeper, I’ve got that power and agility and I’m very good at (penalties).”

England had researched Colombia’s penalty takers beforehand and Pickford said: “We had a fair feeling, and Falcao was the only one who didn’t go his (usual) way.”

Dier said of Pickford: “He was incredible, he’s a fantastic goalkeeper and he was fantastic in the penalty shootout.

“He’s been fantastic in training for them and he’s taken it into the game.”

On his own pressure moment, the Tottenham midfielder added: “It was a nervous one, I’ve never had a situation like that before.

“I felt like I had to score after the header I missed at the end (of extra time), and I’m just thankful I scored that one.” JORDAN Pickford helped England end their penalty shootout hoodoo and reach the World Cup quarterfinals at the expense of Colombia in Moscow.

After decades stewing on his Euro 96 semi-final miss against Germany, Gareth Southgate has spent recent months trying to improve their chances in Russia if it went all the way.

Things looked set to go pearshaped when Jordan Henderson’s penalty was saved, only for Mateus Uribe’s spot-kick to rattle the bar and goalkeeper Pickford to deny Carlos Bacca.

Eric Dier kept his composure in the Spartak Stadium cauldron, propelling the Three Lions to a famous 4-3 shootout win after it ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time.

Sweden now await in a mouthwatering Samara quarter-final on Saturday, which England approach buoyed by a display of character and coolness which belied this group’s tender years.

Things should not have got this far. England edged the first half and Colombia should have been reduced to 10 men after Wilmar Barrios headbutted Henderson, yet he inexplicably only received a booking from referee Mark Geiger.

The group managed to control their emotions, even when Raheem Sterling was barged by a Colombia coach, and captain Harry Kane epitomised their strength of character by firing home from the spot after minutes of gamesmanship.

But England never do things the easy way. Pickford’s incredible onehanded save looked to put Southgate’s men through only for Yerry Mina to jump high at a corner to head home three minutes into stoppage time.

Extra-time came and went as the match went to penalties, where the Three Lions won the shootout and their first knockout match since 2006.

It was an amazing end to a remarkable evening.

Jose Pekerman’s side looked intent on outfighting England without injured star James Rodriguez, with the Three Lions’ unhappiness at setpiece manhandling made clear early on.

Kane strained to meet a fine Kieran Trippier cross that he could only direct onto the roof of the as Juan Quintero looked most likely to unpick the lock at the other end.

England lacked such a creative force and their captain surged forward looking to change things. It