World Cup 2018: England vs Colombia in Round of 16 clash
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford the hero as England overcome Colombia 4-3 on penalties to advance to World Cup quarter-finals.
Welcome to live coverage of the World Cup round of 16 clash between England and Colombia at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow. After a 1-1 draw, England won 4-3 on penalties. Here’s how the match unfolded.
7.25am: MATCH WRAP — England win on penalties
England edged Colombia 4-3 on penalties to halt a run of five successive shootout defeats at major tournaments and book a quarter-final clash against Sweden at the World Cup.
Harry Kane fired England ahead with his tournament-leading sixth goal just before the hour in Moscow, converting a penalty after he was hauled down by Carlos Sanchez at a corner.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL! Kane scores a goal! 1-0 to England! #WorldCup #COLENG pic.twitter.com/Zo2nc21G20
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
Gareth Southgate’s team looked to be heading into the last eight in regulation time until Yerry Mina equalised with a 93rd-minute header as the giant Colombian defender scored for the third game in a row.
GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!! 1-1! Yerry Mina's third goal of the tournament!
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
What a #WorldCup this is! #COLENG pic.twitter.com/BfoPdfCxBh
Neither team could find an advantage in extra-time and so a bad-tempered match went to a nailbiting penalty shootout.
David Ospina dived superbly to his left to repel Jordan Henderson’s third penalty for England, but Manuel Uribe hit the crossbar before Jordan Pickford saved from Carlos Bacca.
PICKFORD SAVES! #WORLDCUP #COLENG pic.twitter.com/Xd4QRI1sEU
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
Eric Dier drilled home the decisive spot-kick as England won for just the second time in eight penalty shootouts and reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006.
“To get knocked down at the end like we did with that goal in extra time, you know, it’s difficult to come back from that. But we did,” Dier said.
“We were ready for that. We knew what we had to do, we stayed calm, we stuck to our plan, we never panicked all the way through extra time.
“We knew that if it has to go to penalties, it has to go to penalties. We were ready for that.”
DIER SCORES! ENGLAND ARE THROUGH! Their first win on penalties since Euro 96! #COLENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/mZnVu6KWLZ
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
Colombia were dealt a huge blow before kick-off as James Rodriguez failed to shake off a calf injury, the Bayern Munich midfielder not even fit enough for a place on the bench.
The 26-year-old was the Golden Boot winner with six goals in Brazil four years ago, when Colombia reached the quarter-finals for the first time.
Kane, Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli were among nine players recalled for England after Southgate rested the majority of his first-choice side for their final group game against Belgium.
Kane scored a combined five goals in the wins over Tunisia and Panama, and the Tottenham striker went close when his looping header back across goal landed on the roof of the net.
Sterling then did well to spin past the imposing Davinson Sanchez although his left-footed strike was charged down, while Kieran Trippier curled wide from a free-kick.
Wilmar Barrios was booked for leaning his head into the chest of Henderson as the game grew into an increasingly fiesty affair.
Pickford made his first save from a fizzing long-range effort from Juan Fernado Quintero, while Jesse Lingard sliced over after Colombia half-cleared a cross.
A member of the Colombia coaching staff appeared to deliberately barge Sterling as the Manchester City player headed towards the half-time at the interval, escaping with just a telling-off.
Kane made the breakthrough on 57 minutes after he was wrestled to the ground at a corner by Carlos Sanchez, the same player who was shown the first red card of the tournament in a 2-1 loss to Japan.
PENALTY! Kane is brought down by Sanchez! #COLENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/NfKDYDWRrU
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
The England captain faced a lengthy wait as several Colombia players protested to the referee but he kept his nerve to beat north London rival Ospina, lifting his penalty just over the Arsenal goalkeeper’s outstretched leg.
Alli nearly added a second when his diving header at the far post flashed over the bar, with Lingard appealing for another spot-kick after he was caught by Davinson Sanchez.
Juan Cuadrado blazed over with 10 minutes to play, and it appeared Colombia’s hopes were up when Pickford made a terrific save to turn behind Manuel Uribe’s spectacular long-range strike.
But Mina rose powerfully to meet the resulting corner, with Trippier only able to help the ball in via the underside of the crossbar in the third minute of added-on time.
Substitute Danny Rose almost struck an extra-time winner when his angled shot whistled beyond the far post, and Dier headed over unmarked at a corner before England’s luck deserted them again in all too familiar fashion.
Then, unlike so many times before, luck finally smiled on them in the shootout.
AFP
Daniel Sankey 7.15am: England hearts still thumping
Spare a thought for all our friends in England, who could have been forgiven for thinking their team was about to yet again depart from a World Cup after a penalty shootout loss.
Loving the reaction of former England internationals Ian Wright, Lee Dixon and Gary Neville who completely lost it while commentating for iTV.
This is my favourite thing ever. #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/waOcM7ADDO
— yourturnHeather (@yourturnheather) July 3, 2018
TV hardman Ross Kemp was feeling the love.
What a game, what an ending. Well done @England #ENGvCOL #EnglandvsColombia #threelions pic.twitter.com/l5qTfmfN2O
— Ross Kemp (@RossKemp) July 3, 2018
It seems England fans can dare to dream that the World Cup “is coming home”.
Itâs coming home #threelions pic.twitter.com/3edvAFUzBz
— Ibra ð¦ (@Ibra_1r) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 7.05am: World Cup quarter-final match-ups
With England’s penalty shoot-out victory over Colombia securing their spot in the last eight against Sweden, we now know exactly how the quarter-finals will play out.
First up on Saturday at midnight (AEST), Uruguay will take on France, with Brazil vs Belgium at 4am.
Then on Sunday at midnight (AEST), Sweden takes on England before the host nation Russia takes on Croatia at 4am.
Your #WorldCup quarter-final line-up is complete! #URUFRA #BRABEL#SWEENG #RUSCRO #URU #FRA #BRA #BEL #SWE #ENG #RUS #CRO pic.twitter.com/LKhUP0XNeC
— FIFA World Cup ð (@FIFAWorldCup) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 6.53am: ENGLAND WINS 4-3 ON PENALTIES
England are through to the World Cup quarter-finals, earning a match-up with Sweden after a thrilling 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Colombia.
Boasting more penalty shootout defeats than any other World Cup nation, England fans feared history may repeat. But goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was the hero as he saved a Carlos Bacca attempt with the scores locked at 3-3.
That gave Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier the chance to win the match, and he made no mistake, smashing it low past Colombia stopper David Ospina.
Never in doubt, was it?#threelions pic.twitter.com/3xLkpBBBHz
— England (@England) July 3, 2018
Here’s how the penalty shootout unfolded:
■ Radamel Falcao steps up to take the first spot kick for Colombia — he smashes it into the top of the net. COLOMBIA 1-0
■ Harry Kane is up next for England. He makes no mistake, sending it into the bottom left corner, giving David Ospina no chance. COLOMBIA 1-1 ENGLAND
■ Juan Cuadrado up for Colombia. He calmly slots it high into the left corner as England ‘keeper Jordan Pickford guesses correctly, but can’t stop it. COLOMBIA 2-1 ENGLAND
■ Marcus Rashford follows Kane, smashing it low to the left. COLOMBIA 2-2 ENGLAND
■ Luis Muriel is next for Colombia, sending Pickford the wrong way and slotting it to the right. COLOMBIA 3-2 ENGLAND
■ Jordan Henderson MISSES! David Ospina gets a hand to his shot and England are in trouble! COLOMBIA 3-2
HENDERSON MISSES! OSPINA SAVES #WorldCup #COLENG pic.twitter.com/KcRkG8PtDP
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
■ Mateus Uribe ALSO MISSES! He hits the crossbar and England is alive! COLOMBIA 3-2 ENGLAND
URIBE HITS THE BAR! #WORLDCUP #COLENG pic.twitter.com/ETFbkiPgrN
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
■ Kieran Trippier levels it up with a confident shot to the bottom left of the goal. COLOMBIA 3-3 ENGLAND
■ Carlos Bacca can’t do it! He hits it straight and England ‘keeper Jordan Pickford gets a hand to it! COLOMBIA 3-3 ENGLAND
PICKFORD SAVES! #WORLDCUP #COLENG pic.twitter.com/Xd4QRI1sEU
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
■ Eric Dier wins it for England! The Tottenham man sends it past David Ospina to give England a 4-3 win on penalties. ENGLAND 4-3 COLOMBIA
DIER SCORES! ENGLAND ARE THROUGH! Their first win on penalties since Euro 96! #COLENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/mZnVu6KWLZ
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 6.40am: Penalty shootout to decide it
It’s exactly what England were dreading.
After conceding a late equaliser and failing to break through in extra time in a 1-1 draw with Colombia, the round of 16 match will be decided by penalties.
Harry Kane’s second half penalty was cancelled out by an injury time equaliser from defender Yerry Mina.
England had some terrific moments in that second period of extra time but couldn’t break through … and now it comes to spot kicks.
Penalty shootouts have been a curse for England in recent major tournaments. They were eliminated on penalties at the 1990, 1998 and 2006 World Cups, as well as at the European Championships in 1996, 2004 and 2012. Will today be different?
ENGLAND 1-1 COLOMBIA
Penalties it is...#COLENG pic.twitter.com/Dl7GbJJZbe
— FIFA World Cup ð (@FIFAWorldCup) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 6.32am: Rose, Dier shoot wide
England very nearly snatch a second goal with eight minutes remaining — Jordan Henderson playing left back Danny Rose into the box. Rose gets a shot in as he’s closed down by the Colombian defence, but he shoots just wide with goalkeeper David Ospina beaten.
Jesse Lingard then wins a corner and Eric Dier gets a free header on the ball … but puts it straight over the bar with five minutes left on the clock.
Huge opportunities missed for England.
ENGLAND 1-1 COLOMBIA
112' Chance for England!
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) July 3, 2018
Rose's shot goes across the face of goal.
So close...
Colombia 1-1 England#COLENG #OptusSport #WorldCup
Daniel Sankey 6.23am: Vardy shoots, but offside
An early opportunity less than a minute into the second period of extra time for England, with Jamie Vardy shooting directly into the breadbasket of Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
The flag went up for offside, meaning the goal wouldn’t have counted had Vardy managed to get it into the back of the net, but it’s promising signs for England after a listless first period of extra time.
ENGLAND 1-1 COLOMBIA
Daniel Sankey 6.20am: 1-1 at halftime in extra time
We’re just 15 minutes or so away from a penalty shootout, with neither team able to break the deadlock after the first period of extra time.
The closing stages of that period undoubtedly belonged to Colombia, who were able to win a corner then later give Radamel Falcao a chance for a clear header on goal, which he could only push wide.
ENGLAND 1-1 COLOMBIA
Halfway through extra time, and it's still 1-1.#threelions pic.twitter.com/wzW7L2ExK0
— England (@England) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 6.13am: Stalemate in extra time
Five minutes to go in the first period of extra time and the free-flowing football that we saw late in the second half has all but disappeared.
Neither team has made much headway in their attacking forays, with both England and Colombia getting plenty of men in defence.
You’d be getting very short odds from bookmakers on a penalty shootout right now.
ENGLAND 1-1 COLOMBIA
Daniel Sankey 5.59am: FULLTIME — England 1-1 Colombia
Spare a thought for England fans. It looked as though a quarter-final berth was all but sealed midway through five minutes of added time before Yerry Mina scored an unlikely equaliser from a corner.
The players will be back on the field shortly for extra time.
ENGLAND 1-1 COLOMBIA
Colombia force the ball in from a corner, and it looks like we're heading for extra time. So harsh on the #ThreeLions. pic.twitter.com/t1UbI8mzt5
— England (@England) July 3, 2018
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 5.54am: GOAL! England 1-1 Colombia
Colombia have equalised! A blistering shot on goal is knocked out for a corner by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
But he can’t stop the next play, with defender Yerry Mina climbing high from the corner to head in for the equaliser with just a couple of minutes of stoppage time remaining.
Could it be another World Cup of heartbreak for England? They now face a testing period of extra time against an opponent they know will not give in.
ENGLAND 1-1 COLOMBIA
GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!! 1-1! Yerry Mina's third goal of the tournament!
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
What a #WorldCup this is! #COLENG pic.twitter.com/BfoPdfCxBh
Daniel Sankey 5.51am: Five minutes of stoppage time
England need to hold out for five minutes of added time. Jamie Vardy has been brought on for Raheem Sterling.
ENGLAND 1-0 COLOMBIA
Daniel Sankey 5.43am: Colombia wastes chance
Huge moment for Colombia, with Juan Cuadrado given a free shot on goal from inside England’s penalty area after a lightning counter-attack. However Cuadrado wastes the opportunity, failing to force a save from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who watches the ball sail over the crossbar.
ENGLAND 1-0 COLOMBIA
HUGE CHANCE! What could be a very costly miss for Cuadrado! #COLENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/6q8RMBLXU9
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
Wow that was too close!
— Sol Campbell (@SolManOfficial) July 3, 2018
Sharp intake of breath. One moment of carelessness. Hopefully that's enough to remind everyone to concentrate for full 90 minutes plus extra time. #ENGCOL #WorldCup
— Sir Geoff Hurst (@TheGeoffHurst) July 3, 2018
Christ, itâs hard work watching England at World Cups. So much easier to play in the darn things.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 5.41am: Lingard brought down in box?
Another chance for Jesse Lingard, who appeals for a free kick after going down in the box. The referee waves play on to the howls of protest from England’s players as Lingard slams his hands on the ground in disgust.
Replays show there may have been a slight touch on Lingard’s left boot, but it’s difficult to argue with the play-on call.
Into the 81st minute now and England make their first substitution of the match, with Dele Alli making way for Eric Dier.
ENGLAND 1-0 COLOMBIA
Ref didn't give a pen for this. Thoughts? #COLENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/vW5GlXL10X
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 5.36am: England push to extend lead
Another terrific chance on 72 minutes for England, with Dele Alli playing an unmarked Jesse Lingard into the box. He takes a touch and shoots but a desperate dive from a Colombian defender is enough to deflect it out for a corner, which is defended.
Harry Kane is then — again — brought down just outside the box, giving Ashley Young the chance to swing in a free kick from the left. Kane makes a lunge with his right boot but is off-side.
Into the 75th minute now and England still hold the narrowest of leads.
ENGLAND 1-0 COLOMBIA
Daniel Sankey 5.18am: GOAL! England 1-0 Colombia
Another yellow card for Colombia … this time it’s defender Santiago Arias, who’s cautioned for a heavy challenge into the back of England captain Harry Kane as he went up for a header.
The resulting free kick is defused by Davinson Sanchez, who heads it out for a corner as England’s Harry Maguire closed in.
Then it’s a penalty for England! Carlos Sanchez brings down Kane in the box as England prepare to take the corner. Sanchez is shown yellow despite protests from the Colombian players.
PENALTY! Kane is brought down by Sanchez! #COLENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/NfKDYDWRrU
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
Kane steps up to take the penalty and he doesn’t make a mistake, thumping it into the left side of David Ospina’s goal as the Colombian ‘keeper dives to his right. That’s now six goals for England in three matches for Kane.
ENGLAND 1-0 COLOMBIA
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL! Kane scores a goal! 1-0 to England! #WorldCup #COLENG pic.twitter.com/Zo2nc21G20
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 5.07am: Second half kicks off
We’re back underway in the England vs Colombia Round of 16 clash at the Spartak Stadium, with both teams unchanged.
Star Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez, who’s been struggling with a calf injury, is prowling the sideline but hasn’t been warming up. England’s Dele Alli is back out on the field despite appearing to be struggling with the thigh injury he sustained against Tunisia.
ð¤#threelions pic.twitter.com/bD363gpTkj
— England (@England) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 4.54am: HALFTIME — England 0-0 Colombia
An entertaining first half at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, even though the scores are still locked at 0-0.
Save for a couple of left foot lashes at goal from Colombia’s Juan Quintero, England has made most of the running in this match and will be disappointed to not be taking a lead into the break.
While the Colombian defence has managed to keep star forward Harry Kane relatively quiet, save for a header that sailed over the bar and onto the top of the net on 16 minutes, both Jesse Lingard and Raheem Sterling have looked dangerous with the ball at their feet.
A little worry for England as the half drew to a close, with Dele Alli slow to rise after a strong challenge. The Tottenham man suffered a thigh strain in England’s victory over Tunisia at the start of the group stages and is sporting strapping on the area in this match. It remains to be seen whether he returns in the second half, or if England manager Gareth Southgate turns to the likes of Marcus Rashford or Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
ENGLAND 0-0 COLOMBIA
Key stats:
— FIFA World Cup ð (@FIFAWorldCup) July 3, 2018
ð #COL have won their last three #WorldCup matches when it has been 0-0 at half-time
ð #ENG have not won their last four World Cup matches in which the score at half-time was 0-0, since a 1-0 win against Ecuador in the 2006 Last 16.#COLENG pic.twitter.com/U54IDY3OfI
Daniel Sankey 4.41am: Barrios sees yellow after headbutt
Big chance for England in the 38th minute, with captain Harry Kane brought down just outside the box as he charged towards goal.
As Kieran Trippier prepared to take the kick and the England and Colombian players gathered, midfielder Jordan Henderson is struck on the chin by a stray head from Wilmar Barrios and falls to his knees. England defender Harry Maguire signals for the video replay to adjudicate, but the referee simply warns Barrios and issues a yellow card.
The Colombian may have been lucky to stay on the field there, and was probably saved by the fact that the first contact between his head and Henderson was on the England man’s chest.
Trippier tries to curl a right-footed shot into the top-left corner of the goal but can only drag it wide.
ENGLAND 0-0 COLOMBIA
Yellow card for Barrios for this. Thoughts? #COLENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/sr12WdN4wp
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
ð¤¨#threelions pic.twitter.com/F49KigCaqQ
— England (@England) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 4.31am: England push the pace
Still 0-0 at the half-hour mark, and apart from a couple of Colombian counter-attacks, it’s been all England in this Round of 16 clash.
Defender Harry Maguire was left holding his head in dismay in the 27th minute when he failed to get his forehead on an Ashley Young free kick that was knocked out for a corner by the Colombia defence.
A testy exchange between Colombia forward Radamel Falcao and England right back Kieran Trippier also ensued just before the 30-minute mark when Falcao appeared to make the most of a touch from behind. Trippier let Falcao know he wasn’t impressed with the Colombian’s exaggerated forward fall — and Falcao let him know in return that he didn’t appreciate Trippier’s opinion.
Daniel Sankey 4.17am: It’s all the Three Lions early
Just on 16 minutes gone and it’s been all England in their Round of 16 clash with Colombia.
Left wing back Ashley Young has provided terrific attacking spark down the left and the Three Lions have already won a couple of corners.
A Raheem Sterling shot from just outside the penalty area in the 13th minute may have tested Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, if not for a last ditch block by a Colombia defender.
And England captain Harry Kane managed to get a head to a cross from Kieran Trippier, but could only succeed in putting the ball on top of the net.
ENGLAND 0-0 COLOMBIA
CLOSE! Harry Kane gets on the end of Trippier's cross but can't quite convert! pic.twitter.com/zlidmjijMo
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 3, 2018
So close! @trippier2 plays a near-perfect cross into the box but it's just a little to awkward for @HKane, who heads onto the roof of the net.#threelions pic.twitter.com/ufPKKefoux
— England (@England) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 4.06am: England on the attack
A bright start for England, with Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling winning a free kick just outside the penalty area after forcing a handball from a Colombia defender.
Ashley Young goals for goal and forces a two-fisted punch away by Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina. England then wins a corner but once again Ospina defuses the situation.
ENGLAND 0-0 COLOMBIA
England look SHARP. Great start. #ENGVSCOL
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 3.58am: Ready to go
The anthems have been sung — impressively, it must be said, by the many England and Colombia fans in attendance — and we’re ready to kick off.
Good luck to both teams as they chase the final spot in the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals.
We are the #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/pLl8WBrzEc
— England (@England) July 3, 2018
ICYMI | Tonight's teams... ð#COLENG pic.twitter.com/ApPBX1E4lA
— FIFA World Cup ð (@FIFAWorldCup) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 3.45am: Delph to play no part
England has confirmed Fabian Delph will play no part in today’s Round of 16 match against Colombia, with the midfielder back in England to be with his wife, who’s about to give birth.
England manager Gareth Southgate said Delph’s focus “needed to be with his family at this time”.
“The thought process is that some things in life are more important than football,” Southgate said.
Yesterday, Southgate revealed Delph had been feeding his wife curries in a bid to speed up the birth of their third child.
Southgate confirms Delph is with his pregnant wife [in England] and will miss the game. "The thought process is that some things in life are more important than football. He's desperate to support us, but also, I think his focus needs be with his family at this time." #ENG #MCFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 3.40am: Sweden await the winner
A quarter-final clash with Sweden is the prize for the winner of this morning’s Round of 16 clash between England and Colombia.
Earlier today, a deflected shot from Emil Forsberg gave Sweden a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in a scrappy round of 16 match.
It secured the Swedes their first World Cup quarter-final appearance in 24 years.
Read the full story here.
GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL! Forsberg's shot is deflected in! #WorldCup #SWESUI pic.twitter.com/f7wRRV2hQB
— SBS - The World Game (@TheWorldGame) July 3, 2018
Daniel Sankey 3.30am: How the bookie sees it
England are warm favourites for today’s Round of 16 match against Colombia, with online bookmaker PointsBet offering $2.10 for a Three Lions victory. The draw is $3.05 while a Colombia win is paying $3.90.
Nor surprisingly, PointsBet has made Harry Kane — who scored five goals in his first two matches at this World Cup — a $4.20 favourite to score the first goal of today’s game. Jamie Vardy, who’ll start on the bench, is the $6.25 second favourite ahead of Colombia targetman Radamel Falcao ($7.00).
Daniel Sankey 3am: Teams are in, but no James Rodriguez
A massive blow for Colombia supporters with just an hour before kick-off, with star forward James Rodriguez not in the starting XI for the round of 16 clash with England.
Rodriguez, who has been struggling with a calf injury, was earlier today declared fit to play — but if he does see any action this morning, it’s likely to only be as a second half substitute.
After fielding a second string team in their final group game against Belgium, England is back to full strength. Captain Harry Kane returns to spearhead the attack, and will be supported by in the front half by Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard.
TEAM NEWS | The teams are in for #COL and #ENG#COLENG // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/mGBizd89rl
— FIFA World Cup ð (@FIFAWorldCup) July 3, 2018
2.30am: England’s penalty shoot-out fears
England face Colombia in the round of 16 this morning (4am AEST) aiming to improve on a poor record in knockout games in major tournaments and with half an eye on the risk of a penalty shootout.
Since winning the World Cup 52 years ago, they have managed just six victories in do-or-die matches.
Penalty shootouts have proved to be England’s undoing on several occasions — they lost via penalties at the 1990, 1998 and 2006 World Cups, as well as the 1996, 2004 and 2012 European Championships.
Not surprisingly, manager Gareth Southgate says his team have been working on penalties.
“We’ve been practising and going through strategies on penalties since March. We’ve been doing studies and having individual practice and we’ll go through that in an little more detail now,” he said after Thursday’s final Group G game ended in a 1-0 defeat to Belgium.
“We’re aware the margins are going to be really fine in these knockout phases. We have to be prepared physically and mentally to go to extra time, and beyond if that’s what it takes.”
England’s last win in a tournament knockout game was 12 years ago when they beat Ecuador 1-0 in the World Cup but then lost the next game in a penalty shootout to Portugal.
Southgate himself has painful memories of shoot out failure as he missed the decisive spot kick in the EURO 96 semi-final against Germany at Wembley Stadium.
He later featured in a pizza commercial that mocked his miss along with Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle, who missed penalties in the 1990 World Cup semi-final shootout loss to West Germany.
But the England manager later opted against appearing in a documentary about EURO 96, hosted by ex-teammate Alan Shearer, because he did not want to talk about his miss.
England’s failures have become a recurring national joke, with acres of newsprint and even academic studies devoted to why their players are found wanting in such situations.
The conclusions have included the speed at which England take penalties — an average 0.28 seconds response time from when the referee blows his whistle — to being trapped in a decades-long cycle of failure.
Statistics suggest that players have an 89 per cent chance of scoring if the team’s last two shootouts have been successful.
The figure drops to 57 per cent if they have failed, as England almost always have.
REUTERS
2.15am: PREVIEW — England vs Colombia
England’s progress under Gareth Southgate has raised expectations at the World Cup but their first true test will come in the form or Colombia in the round of 16.
With or without their talented No.10 James Rodriguez, the South Americans possess plenty of talent and their run to the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago showed they are capable of something England haven’t managed in 12 years — winning in the knockout stage.
England qualified from Group G thanks to wins over Tunisia and Panama and with their place booked they fielded a second-string side in their 1-0 defeat to a similarly weakened Belgium in a strange final group game that neither side showed much desire to win.
The ‘prize’ for finishing second in the group, was to be in the easier half of the draw but all the talk of a ‘path’ to the final risks under-estimating the difficulty of their immediate obstacle.
Rodriguez, whose involvement is questionable as he is suffering from swelling in his leg, was showing signs of the form that made him the breakout star of Brazil 2014.
Radamel Falcao’s failure to make a strong impact in the Premier League during spells with Manchester United and Chelsea, should not disguise the fact that he is a prolific finisher and a real threat.
Likewise winger Juan Cuadrado’s disappointment at Chelsea needs to be set against his impressive performances in Serie A for Juventus and his importance to Jose Pekerman’s Colombia.
England right-back Kieran Trippier, who impressed in the opening two games, says the players are well aware of the challenge facing them.
“We have done a lot of work on them. When you look at the players they’ve got in the team and the way the qualified in their group as well, they’ve got some quality players and we need to be aware of that,” he said.
Trippier suggested England will continue with the approach they have shown so far in this tournament and indeed Southgate is expected to return to the line-up that he started with in the opener against Tunisia.
It means Dele Alli should be back in his supporting role to five-goal striker Harry Kane at the expense of Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
REUTERS
2am: Asprilla, Shearer share a bet
Former Premier League teammates Faustino Asprilla and Alan Shearer have placed a friendly barbecue wager on Colombia’s World Cup round of 16 clash with England.
“England vs Colombia in the round of (16). Should we bet a barbecue or do you fear we win? Finally the rematch of France 98, now our turn came!” the ex-Colombia international tweeted to Shearer this week.
“Bring it on!” the English former striker replied.
“If Colombia Wins you come to Colombia and cook barbeque with me, if England wins i will do the same with you in New Castle. Are you in?” Asprilla then asked in reference to the match, which will be played on Tuesday in Moscow.
The two became good friends during their time as Newcastle teammates from 1996 to 1998.
@alanshearer this is how we grade the stake, for the barbecue youâr cooking in my farm in Tulua this month.ð pic.twitter.com/d7ZeI0xNzX
— Faustino Asprilla (@TinoasprillaH) July 1, 2018
Both players were selected for their respective teams during the 1998 World Cup in France.
England beat Colombia in the group phase that year 2-0, a match Asprilla did not play because he had been dismissed from the Colombian team for criticising the head coach after a previous game.
How do you like yours? 1-0, 2-0, or 3-0?! ð¤£ð¤£ð¤£ https://t.co/syEHcvOhE1
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) July 1, 2018
EFE
1.45am: Alli ready to step up to spot
Dele Alli wants to a take a spot-kick if England’s World Cup fate comes down to a penalty shootout.
The knockout phase brings with it the spectre of penalties, which Gareth Southgate’s men have been preparing for since March.
England have lost six of their seven shootouts at major tournaments but Alli is confident this time will be different should it come to it.
“We have been taking some penalties after training and looking into things,” he said ahead of the last-16 clash with Colombia.
“But obviously we don’t want to give too much away. We’re confident and we’re looking to change things.
“I took one against Southampton (at Tottenham). I think everyone wants to step up and help the team as much as we can.
“Whatever is right at the time, if I’m on the pitch, I want to take one and I’ll ask and try and take one.”
PA
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