Hi all, it's England's biggest game for a decade as they take on Columbia in Moscow. This game was seen as the most challenging game for England in the knockout stage as the group games ended, however since the weekend's casualties anything can happen. Gareth Southgate announced that the team would be the same eleven players that started against Tunisia at the start of the World Cup. The big headlines for Columbia were that Golden Boot Winner from 4 years ago, James Rodriguez was out of the game with an injury. Ex England players were saying this is the best chance for England since Germany 2006. If they win, they will face Sweden in the quarter-finals. The last time England played Columbia in the World Cup was the last 16 in Germany 2006.
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| Harry Kane and James Rodriguez |
The first significant piece was a free-kick for England outside the box. Ashley Young had a shot at goal, but David Ospina parried it away. The first chance for Columbia was a wild shot going way over the box. England was starting to dominate the game but wasn't getting the rewards for their gameplan even on set pieces. 8 minutes to go England get a free-kick outside the box but a fight gave one of the Columbia players a yellow card after he hit Jordan Henderson on the chest with his head. After all that Trippier just hits it wide of the post. It was getting heated with Sterling and a defender on the stroke of halftime where he thought he was holding on to by the defender. Lingard has a chance, but it went high over the bar. England went in at halftime feeling in control but nothing in terms of goals to show.
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| Reaction after the Henderson incident |
England got a penalty 8 minutes into the second half as Sanchez wrestled Kane to the ground. Henderson got himself a yellow card for retaliation. Kane stepped up, and he scored extending his goal tally by shooting the ball down the middle of the goal past Ospina. Ali got a chance but missed the goal by shooting over the bar. Columbia was getting yellow cards all over the pitch, trying to get on England's emotions. Columbia had a chance from poor play, but it went way over the bar. Mathias Uribe had a chance, but Pickford pulled off an incredible save. Columbia scored the equalizer with two minutes to go. That ended the 90 minutes.
The first period of extra time was dominant Columbia as they had confidence after the goal at the end of the 90 minutes. Vardy had a strike but was caught offside. Rose had a chance, but it skimmed past the post. Marcus Rashford came on for Kyle Walker, who was playing with cramp for a few minutes. Eric Dier had a free header but couldn't get on top of the ball with his header. The game went to a penalty shootout.
Pickford went in goal against Falcao. Falcao scored, then Kane went up for the first one, and he scored to make it 1-1. Rashford went up, and he scored to make it 2-2. Henderson went up for the third penalty and Ospina made a brilliant save. Columbia's fourth hit the bar, Trippier went up to take the 4th penalty, and he scored to make it 3-3. The 5th Columbian penalty was saved by Pickford Eric Dier stepped up, and he scored to send England into the quarter-finals against Sweden. Yes, we've finally won a penalty shootout in the World Cup, for the first time since Euro 96.
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| England players celebrating a missed penalty |
England will be back in action in Samara on Saturday afternoon. They will take on Sweden with a spot in the semifinals at stake.
See you soon and "Come on, England".
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| England surrounding penalty hero Jordan Pickford |
KRO Mark
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