England will meet Sweden in the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup after beating Colombia on penalties in a dramatic round of 16 clash.
Harry Kane’s second-half spot-kick looked to have been enough to seal a place in the last eight, but Yerry Mina’s 93rd-minute equaliser forced extra-time and the dreaded shoot-out.
Jordan Henderson saw his effort saved by David Ospina, but after Mateus Uribe hit the bar, Kieran Trippier found the top corner, Jordan Pickford saved from Carlos Bacca and then Eric Dier stepped up to slide home the winning kick.
And here are five talking points from a famous win for Gareth Southgate’s young side:
England end 12-year drought
This was the Three Lions' first win in the knockout stages of a major tournament since the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
That victory was also against South American opposition, in the shape of Ecuador, and came courtesy of David Beckham’s goal on the hour mark.
Fast forward 12 years and, although this wasn’t quite as straightforward, England have now put an end to an unwanted record.
Another record gone
Furthermore, this was England's maiden success in a World Cup penalty shoot-out.
They had suffered spot-kick heartbreak in 1990, 1998 and 2006, not to mention the European Championships of 1996 and 2004.
But Pickford, England’s youngest-ever tournament goalkeeper, and Dier came to the fore to propel their country into the last eight of Russia 2018.
Kane’s hot streak continues
A sixth goal in three games, the third from the penalty spot, tournament top scorer Kane already has one foot inside the Golden Boot.
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, with four goals, and Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani and France youngster Kylian Mbappe, with three each, look the only realistic threats to the 24-year-old skipper.
Kane now joins Gary Lineker as the only England player to have bagged six goals at a single World Cup. And no-one would bet against that tally rising.
Colombia’s dark arts
Jose Pekerman’s side tried to ruffle England feathers at every opportunity, particularly when defending set pieces, though American referee Mark Geiger was on top of it and booked six Colombians.
Wilmar Barrios might have been sent off following an altercation with Henderson in the first half but escaped with a yellow.
Yet Colombia did not learn their lesson as Carlos Sanchez, once of Aston Villa, was penalised for dragging Kane to the floor at an England corner.
Geiger pointed to the spot, Kane picked himself up, dusted himself down and… well, you know the drill.
Fearless Pickford
England’s No1 will receive all the plaudits for his shoot-out heroics – and rightly so.
He almost secured the victory in normal time when he somehow tipped Uribe’s fierce long-ranger round the post for a corner.
Mina’s leveller put the celebrations on hold, but Pickford, who saved two penalties at the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2011, had the last laugh in the shoot-out.
Next up – Sweden
England can now look forward to their first World Cup quarter final appearance since 2006.
They will take on Sweden, who edged Switzerland in their second-round match, at the Samara Arena on Saturday afternoon (3pm BST).
The pair have met at two World Cups in the past, with both matches ending in a draw.
England (3-5-2): 1 Jordan Pickford (Everton); 2 Kyle Walker (Manchester City), 5 John Stones (Manchester City), 6 Harry Maguire (Leicester City); 12 Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), 7 Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), 8 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), 20 Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), 18 Ashley Young (Manchester United); 9 Harry Kane (capt; Tottenham Hotspur), 10 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City).
Substitutes: 4 Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) for Dele 81, 11 Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) for Sterling 88, 3 Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur) for Young 102, 19 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) for Walker 113.
Substitutes not used: 13 Jack Butland (Stoke City), 14 Danny Welbeck (Arsenal), 15 Gary Cahill (Chelsea), 16 Phil Jones (Manchester United), 21 Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), 22 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), 23 Nick Pope (Burnley).
Goal: Kane (pen) 57.
Cautions: Henderson 56, Lingard 69.
Penalties:
Kane – scored
Rashford – scored
Henderson – saved by Ospina
Trippier – scored
Dier – scored
Manager: Gareth Southgate
