Tue 03 July 2018, 23:13
Tottenham HotspurHarry Kane, Kieran Trippier and Eric Dier were spot on to fire England into the quarter-finals of the World Cup in the most dramatic of circumstances on Tuesday evening.
The trio stepped up when it mattered to each convert their penalties in a tense 4-3 shootout victory over Davinson Sanchez’s Colombia as Gareth Southgate’s men booked a last eight tie with Sweden.
All five of our players in the Three Lions squad played their part, with England mere minutes away from claiming a 1-0 win in normal time after Harry netted his sixth goal of the tournament from the spot in the 57th minute, having been fouled in the box on a set-piece.
Dele Alli and Kieran Trippier also went close, but Yerry Mina’s injury-time header from a corner squirmed over Kieran’s head and into the net to make it 1-1 and momentarily snatch victory from the Three Lions’ grasp.
Get in there!! Proud. Bottle. Character. 🦁🦁🦁 #ThreeLions #WorldCup #ENG pic.twitter.com/FIRTBXPzCY
— Harry Kane (@HKane) July 3, 2018
Substitute Danny Rose almost nicked a winner during a weary period of extra time for both sides before the match went to penalties and our lads made it count.
Harry scored England’s first and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford followed suit but when Jordan Henderson’s effort was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina, England were teetering on the brink.
Step forward Kieran Trippier, who took advantage of Mateus Uribe’s miss for Colombia to fire in and level the scores. And after Carlos Bacca’s shot was saved by Everton stopper Jordan Pickford, Eric drilled low beyond Ospina to win it.
That secured a first ever World Cup penalty shootout win for England on what was a memorable night for Southgate’s troops and the millions of fans watching around the world.
It was heartbreak for Davinson, though, who was once again superb at the back for Colombia over the full 120 minutes.
What a special night!
— Kieran Trippier (@trippier2) July 3, 2018
Love this team!
Roll on Saturday 🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/DAxPQFUbVV
Harry and Kieran both completed the full stint for England, Dele started and was replaced by Eric on 81 minutes and Danny came on for United’s Ashley Young in the first half of extra time.
The result means we have nine players set to compete in the World Cup quarter-finals, with the England quintet joining France skipper Hugo Lloris and the Belgian trio of Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Mousa Dembele in the last eight of the tournament.
England face Sweden at 3pm UK time on Saturday, with France playing Uruguay at the same time on Friday. Belgium meet Brazil later that evening (7pm UK).
With his six goals, Harry is now two ahead of Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku in the race for the Golden Boot.
