England’s spot of joy as Pickford saves day
JORDAN Pickford helped England end their penalty shootout hoodoo and reach the World Cup quarter-finals 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 and a match against Sweden on Saturday after it ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time.
Southgate’s side had been seconds away from the last eight during normal time, with Harry Kane’s penalty after he was fouled by Carlos Sanchez in the box – his sixth goal of the tournament – looking as though it was going to send them through.
But deep into injury time, Colombia threw everyone forward for a Juan Cuadrado corner, including goalkeeper David Ospina, and Yerry Mina headed a dramatic equaliser at the Spartak Stadium.
Kieran Trippier was standing on the line but could not keep out the Barcelona centre-back’s third headed goal of the World Cup.
The Three Lions had been on top for most of the 90 minutes but appeared understandably deflated in extra time - although Danny Rose and Dier missed late chances to win the game and avoid a shootout.
Henderson had a penalty saved by Ospina in the shootout but Mateus Uribe smashed the following kick onto the crossbar to pave the way for Pickford and Dier to be England heroes.
No previous world champions stand between England and the final. The winners of their quarterfinal will face either Croatia or hosts Russia for a place in Moscow on 15 July.
The game itself had been a badtempered affair, with eight players booked in total – six Colombians, including Wilmar Barrios, who was lucky to avoid red for a first-half headbutt on Henderson.
Earlier, Sweden defeated Switzerland 1-0 in a compelling, but untidy, tie in St Petersburg.
Emil Forsberg struck the decisive blow midway through the second half with a shot that deflected off the luckless Manuel Akanji and left Yann Sommer stranded in the Swiss goal.
Sommer had brilliantly clawed away a shot on the turn from Marcus Berg in the first half and denied Haris Seferovic late on but it was undoubtedly a game that was more about missed opportunities than good saves.
Both sides were guilty of squandering good openings - and Switzerland ended it with 10 men after Michael Lang was dismissed in injury time for a push on Martin Olsson.