We have made our own history, says Southgate
Manager hails players after shoot-out success Kane says victory will give the nation belief
Gareth Southgate hailed his history boys as they became the first England team to win a World Cup penalty shoot-out and the first to reach the quarter-finals since 2006.
England will play Sweden in the last eight in Samara on Saturday after ending their shoot-out curse against Colombia. Jordan Pickford made himself a national hero, as he saved Carlos Bacca’s penalty before Eric Dier scored the decisive kick to secure progress.
Harry Kane’s sixth goal of the tournament, from the penalty spot, had seemed destined to send England through, but Yerry Mina headed a last-gasp equaliser to force extra-time and penalties.
England’s only previous penalty shoot-out success came against Spain at Euro 96, and the nation had been knocked out of three previous World Cups on penalties, in 1990, 1998 and 2006.
Asked about his team’s shoot-out victory over Colombia, Southgate said: “They have created their own story and made history. I don’t want to go home yet. Shoot-outs are tough. We had talked long and hard about owning the process of a shoot-out. They kept calm. The players have taken it all on board, it’s a special moment for us.”
Southgate, though, dismissed any suggestion that this shoot-out victory would bury his personal ghosts, having missed the decisive kick against Germany at Euro 96.
“It will never be off my back, sadly,” said Southgate. “That’s something that will live with me forever. But today is a special moment for this team. It’ll 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. I think these young players are showing that. They’re enjoying the tournament and we’re looking forward now to the quarter-finals.”
Kane is confident the shoot-out success will give the whole of England a new level of belief as the team prepare to meet Sweden for a place in the semi-finals.
“It’ll give us huge belief,” he said. “Can we qualify through the group? Yes, we did that quite comfortably. Then can we win a knockout game? Can we win a shoot-out? We’ve ticked those boxes. This will give us more belief than ever and the fans more belief than ever back home. We’re enjoying it, they’re enjoying it. We’d spoken a lot about being an inexperienced and young team, but we grew up a lot on that pitch. There were mixed emotions, highs and lows, even in the penalty shootout. We were behind and wanting Pickers to save one, and he did. It showed our mentality. England haven’t done great in the past in that, but that’ll give us huge belief as a team moving forward now.”
Colombia angered England players by delaying Kane’s penalty in normal time and by attempting to provoke them on a number of occasions, but manager Jose Pekerman instead pointed the finger at Southgate’s side and warned they could be punished against Sweden. “England have great aerial threat,” said Pekerman. “They collide and fall in the box.” Southgate responded by saying: “We kept our dignity and our sportsmanship and if we were down it was because we were fouled.”
England have injury concerns over Kyle Walker, Ashley Young and Jamie Vardy, while Kane suffered with cramp. Southgate said: “It’s like a scene from M.A.S.H. in that dressing room, some from cramp and others needing assessment.”