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Finally back in the World Top 8 … thanks to the penalties! Saved by a Jordan Pickford in a state of grace, England eliminated Tuesday (1-1, 4-3 t.a.b), to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup-2018.
The curse is broken. England had not reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup since 2006. Especially, never happy during its last three penalty shoot-outs (1990, 1998, and 2006), the English team did not miss his fourth attempt thanks to his heroic goalkeeper Pickford, author of a decisive stoppage on the last Colombian shot.
After the equalization of Yerry Mina at the very end of the match (90th +3), the "Three Lions", who had done the hardest by opening the score on penalty (57th), have long believed in the repetition of the nightmare scenario. But the lottery of shots on goal has finally switched to their side.
Pitily eliminated at the stage of the eighth of his last major tournament at Euro-2016, the English selection has definitely marked his renewal under the direction of Gareth Southgate . Even better, it is heading back to the quarter-finals of a World Cup.
The English, who will meet Sweden on Saturday in Samara, can even hope to go further. With a table completely cleared since Spain, former grand-favorite, has been removed from the road to the final by Russia, the teammates of "HurryKane" now become credible outsiders.
For Colombia Radamel Falcao , who reached the stage of the quarter-finals at the World Cup-2018 bowing to Brazil (2-1) and approached the meeting full of "dreams" is the disillusion …
Thousands "Cafeteros" fans had done everything to animate Spartak Stadium, with feline disguises and songs in honor of their captain "El Tigre Falcao", on the air of the famous "Seven Nation Army".
– James helpless –
But without James Rodriguez, forfeit because of his calf and forced to see the match in the stands, the Cafeteros have missed a guide: Juan Quintero has never donned the costume of conductor. The former Rennais tried to dynamite the game by his short dribbles or individual exploits but without success, as on this miss shot (34th) or too much on the goalkeeper (45th).
The only first big opportunity came on a Trippier's cross at the far post but Kane, who had managed to free himself from the mark of his teammate Tottenham Davinson Sanchez, failed to fold his head that pbaded just above (17th). If he still tried a shot just before half-time (45th), his rival Falcao practically did not touch the ball …
So overall England was more enterprising, the spectators did not there was not much to see in the first period. Even the bloodshed of William Barrios, author of a "coup de boule" on Henderson's chest simply punished with a yellow card (41 '), was not enough to ignite the meeting.
At the return of cloakrooms, it's another stupid mistake of Carlos Sanchez who will finally launch the match: on a harmless corner, he surrounded Kane under the eyes of the referee. English scorer transforms (57th), England takes the lead. But the spirits warm up with each contact.
More enterprising in the last quarter of an hour trying to snatch the extension, the Colombians missed the equalizer several times. Cuadrado, ideally served by the starter Carlos Bacca, saw his shot flying in the sky (82nd) …
Finally, it is Yerry Mina, the "Mina de oro" of Barça, who has once again saved his! On the corner of the last chance, the defender, already decisive scorer against Senegal (1-0), made talk his relaxation to equalize the head in the additional time (90 + 3). What could boost again, the "If, can puede" (we can do) of Colombian fans until the penalty shoot-out.
But the lottery has chosen England, thanks to a stop of Pickford and a final shot by Eric Dier, touched by Ospina. A few centimeters that make a big difference!
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