England answers Colombian antics
Raheem Sterling peered to his right when 10,000 Colombians in the northwest corner of Spartak Stadium belted out their national anthem.
He glanced a second time as the anthem crescendoed.
Three edge-of-your-seat hours later, this Round of 16 World Cup classic shouldn’t be remembered for the Three Lions finally advancing on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw during regulation time. This is an English side that overcame everything en route to a win that should see them return to Moscow for the final a week from now.
The Colombians didn’t come here to play soccer Tuesday.
Colombia’s Wílmar Barrios should have been sent off early in the match for a clear head-butt that rattled Jordan Henderson’s jaw. And that was just the start of Colombia’s antics.
Sterling was targeted by Colombia’s bench at halftime. Eduardo Urtasun, one of Colombia’s assistant coaches, lowered a shoulder into Sterling ’s chest in front of the fourth official.
After receiving a few stern words, Urtasun turned to Colombian media behind his bench, gave a sneaky thumbs up and a grin akin to something you’d see on a villain’s face.
Like his players, Urtasun hoped to unsettle a team that was better in every facet of the game leading up to Harry Kane correctly being awarded a penalty.
Colombia conceded twice as many fouls and three times as many cautions in a match England weathered with a kind of professionalism that should be commended.
England entered Tuesday having lost five straight World Cup shootouts. But while spot kicks undoubtedly rattled previous England sides, this crop confidently stepped to the spot and slotted from 12 yards.
And, to think, this was supposed to be the simpler path for England.
Meanwhile, Sweden is still alive at this World Cup after outlasting the Group of Death, then downing Switzerland on Tuesday.
Emil Forsberg scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Switzerland and reiterated post-game that Sweden’s recent results stem from belief as much as anything else.