England vs Colombia and to say I was nervous before this game would be a lie, I was confident to be honest that we’d get through if we played like I know we can play. However, after ninety minutes and extra-time, to say I was nervous for penalties would be absolutely correct. I was in a few words, bricking it. Thankfully the boys did us proud and here it is “England have now finally won a penalty shoot-out at a World Cup”, that does feel good.
Before the game there was a couple of changes for Colombia, with the main talking point being James Hernandez on the bench through injury and unlikely to actually play. England were back to their original line up and the one that started against Tunisia in their opening game. Getting the free-kick early on and scoring would certainly have settled any nerves but Trippier pulled it wide. Safe to say Columbia should have probably had someone sent off after a headbutt to Henderson’s chest ended up on his chin.
The fouls and nastyiness contiuned from the Colombians and eventually they were punished when Sanchez brought down Kane in the box from a corner and the Spurs man stepped up and put in down the middle of the goal. 1-0. England could have had two more penalties after that as well but nothing was given and just when all of us as fans thought the lads had held on. Mina got away from his marker Henderson in the 93rd minute to head in his third goal of the tournament which somehow Trippier and Pickford couldn’t stop on the line. Gutted!
Extra-time came and went as we all talked about the thought of penalties once again, could we finally we a penalty shoot-out at the forth attempt. Yes we could is the answer thanks to a Jordan Pickford save. What a relief! Roll on the Quarter-Finals! Is it coming home?
Colombia 1–1 (a.e.t.) England
Mina Goal 90+3′
Kane Goal 57′ (pen.)
Penalties
Falcao Penalty scored
Ju. Cuadrado Penalty scored
Muriel Penalty scored
Uribe Penalty missed
Bacca Penalty missed
3–4
Penalty scored Kane
Penalty scored Rashford
Penalty missed Henderson
Penalty scored Trippier
Penalty scored Dier
Next fixture England:
Saturday July 7th: Sweden v England – Samara, 3pm (Match 60)
Sweden vs Switzerland and neither of these two sides had reached the last eight of a World Cup for a long time, Sweden twenty four years and Switzerland even longer, way back in 1954. One of them would be going through to face England though but it was always going to be a very tight affair.
In fact, I never expected much excitement from this game and I was right, although there was a couple of good early saves to be fair. As the game went on you knew it was always going to be on goal that won it and on sixty minutes there was some good build up from Sweden and Forsberg shot took a slight deflection to wrong-foot Yann Sommer and that was that. The Swedes are off to Samara to face England.
Sweden 1–0 Switzerland
Forsberg Goal 66′
Next fixture for Sweden:
Saturday July 7th: Sweden v England – Samara, 3pm (Match 60)
