Three Crosses (England) Overcome PK Jinx To Defeat Columbia and Advance to the Quarterfinals in the World Cup

When Tottenham’s Eric Dier fired in a successful Penalty shot to close out the game, the Brits had finally lifted over a decade in frustration. England dominated the first 60 minutes of the match and took a 1 nil lead on a Penalty Kick from Harry Kane. It was the 2nd time in the tournament that the Tottenham striker was literally tackled during a corner kick. Kane with 6 goals in the tournament is a clear favorite to win the Golden Boot award.

The English squad is comprised mainly of players from Man U, Man City, and the Spurs –3 of the strongest teams in the vaunted Premier League. However the star of the game was goalie Jordan Pickford from Everton who made the winning save on Columbia’s 5th PK.

from CNN news and Aimee Lewis

Little was expected of this young England team when they left for Russia. There were others with more experience, better teams packed with superstars and pedigree.

But with this being the World Cup which has had little respect for reputation, sending Spain, Germany, Argentina and Portugal tumbling, English hopes have increased with every heavyweight exit.

Social media had been awash, perhaps initially with tongue firmly in cheek, with England fans claiming football was “coming home,” the chorus of the country’s favorite football song “Three Lions,” written when England hosted the European Championships in 1996 and reached the semifinals.

The English are now the only previous winners in their half of the draw and though they have some way to go before replicating the feats of 1966, the only time the country has won football’s biggest prize, even the gloomiest of fan will now perhaps be captivated.

Sweden — eight places below the English in FIFA’s world rankings — will be a dangerous opponent, but it is a tie England will be expected to successfully negotiate.

The tenacious Swedes — who reached their first World Cup quarterfinal in 24 years thanks to a 1-0 win over Switzerland — will not be obliging opponents.

Sweden, after all, topped a group which featured Germany and, though it is a team without superstars, its unity and discipline has already seen off South Korea, Mexico and the Swiss.

Southgate himself tempered expectations.

“This is special but I want us to go on now,” the Englishman added on ITV.

“Sweden, it’s another team we have a poor record against. We’ve underestimated them for years. They’re brilliant at what they do. It’s going to be a real tough test.”

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