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Maybe things are changing with England. On the fourth attempt, they finally won a World Cup penalty shootout to win a knockout tournament for the first time since 2006.
FC Spartak's football match was marked by Eric Dier The decisive penalty and the English players stacked on top of each other at the other end of the field.
Their manager, Gareth Southgate, kissed his support team, aware that the hood had finally been defeated. England had faced shots on goal three times at a World Cup in 1990, 1998 and 2006, but with the help of an excellent save from goalie Jordan Pickford , they finally found a way. After missing a decisive match against Germany at Wembley, England collapsed from the 1996 Euro. On their training base at Repino, in the Gulf of Finland and St George's Park, they did a lot of work, even with a psychologist Pippa Grange preparing the players,
They are now in a quarter-final against Sweden on Saturday, but they had to to do the hard way after conceding a late goal after leading 1-0 for most of the second half. 19659002] The stadium shook in the third minute of stoppage time as Colombian defender Yerry Mina climbed over the crowd and snapped a powerful header after Pickford. The Colombian bench celebrated as if he had won the match, the water carrier having burst into tears.
As Pickford punched the goalpost, supporters on the second floor of the stadium climbed to the top of their shoulders. The deafening noise of 30,000 Colombian fans who thought of returning home. It has been suggested that flights to the Bogota airport have been delayed, so those of Colombian Harry Kane, who was arguably the best player in England throughout the tournament, have pleaded for the calm. While considering a 30 minute extension, Southgate gathered his young team and encouraged them to press the reset button.
The red and white Spartak stadium, 15 km from the center of Moscow, resembled downtown Bogata. meet. In front of a 24-meter-tall statue of the Roman gladiator Spartacus, a middle-aged couple was joined in its salsa by an elderly man wearing a tricolor poncho from Colombia. Fans of England were rare, lost in a sea of Colombian yellow, some of their supporters wearing blonde afro wigs in honor of the country's football hero, Carlos Valderrama.
"On the back of our shirts it is written" Unidos por unidos por un pais "which means" United as a nation, "said Andres Felipe, from the city of Medellin." Our support to our team is in our blood. "
Bibi Ana Martinez from the coastal city of Buenaventura agreed." We are not a rich country but everyone has found a way to be here because we are very emotional, very patriotic, "she said." Some slept in parks or bus stations, but they made sure they were there. "
This was the most intimidating atmosphere that England had known up until this World Cup, the players were laughing when they entered the field for warming up . Vibrant Colombian fans sang their national anthems and bounced in unison, swinging scarves over their heads. But even with an atmosphere similar to that of an away match, England started strong.
In some minds, the Colombian Wilmar Barrios was fortunate not to be deported. as a crash broke out around the granting of a free kick. Halftime was a welcome break for England when it became apparent that their early coolness had abandoned them.
The penalty that led to the English breakthrough was awarded in the 52nd minute by midfielder Carlos Sanchez. for previous incidents, Kane struggled on the ground. Four minutes had passed before the captain took over as the South American players harangued US referee Mark Geiger.
In the midst of frayed temperaments and the heat of the occasion, Kane kept a cool head, leading his penalty in the center of the net, David Ospina, the Arsenal goalkeeper, diving to the right.
Modest spectators from England made their presence felt at the Bistro restaurant, located in one of the main shopping streets of Moscow.
Reading, Morecambe and Stockport fans hung St. George's flags on the wall and recited the full catalog of fan hymns, from Vindaloo to Three Lions and World in Motion. They drank and sang, increasing the volume as a group of Colombians dressed in bright colors were passing by the vuvuzelas, the plastic horns that were made famous at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and were a great success. irritating since.
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