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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 4, 2018
England ends shootout pain to reach last eight By Phil McNulty Chief football writer at Spartak Stadium, Moscow ENGLAND’s new generation ended the World Cup penalty jinx by knocking out Colombia on spot-kicks to reach the quarter-finals. Eric Dier scored the winning kick after Jordan Pickford’s brilliant save from Carlos Bacca’s attempt, with England’s first ever World Cup shootout win setting up a meeting with Sweden in Samara on Saturday, a game that can be seen live across the BBC. Gareth Southgate’s side had been seconds away from the last eight during normal time, with Harry Kane’s penalty after he was fouled by Carlos Sanchez in the box - his sixth goal of the tournament looking as though it was going to send them through. But deep into injury time, Colombia threw everyone forward for a Juan Cuadrado corner, including goalkeeper David Ospina, and Yerry Mina headed a dramatic equaliser at the Spartak Stadium. Kieran Trippier was standing on the line but could not keep out the Barcelona centre-back’s third headed goal of the World Cup. The Three Lions had been on top for most of the 90 minutes but appeared understandably deflated in extra time - although Danny Rose and Dier missed late chances
to win the game and avoid a shootout. Henderson had a penalty saved by Ospina in the shootout but Mateus Uribe smashed the following kick on to the crossbar to pave the way for Pickford and Dier to be England heroes. No previous world champions stand between England and the final. The winners of their quarter-final will face either Croatia or hosts Russia for a place in Moscow on 15 July.
as they drive deeper into this World Cup after a night of noise, colour and hostility in Moscow. Southgate’s side cast off the clouds of dread that have come over England in penalty shootouts in the past, a psychological lift that may yet help them further down the line. Colombia made their intentions clear from the off. This was going to be a scrap and Jose Pekerman’s side would be the beneficiaries if
Everton goalkeeper Pickford received some criticism for his performance against Belgium but was outstanding here, not only saving that Bacca penalty but producing one of the saves of the World Cup from Uribe’s thunderous drive from 30 yards - which cruelly led to the corner that brought Mina’s equaliser. And Trippier’s measured penalty was another indication of his growing maturity at this level, the Spurs full-back hav-
FINALLY! England beat Colombia on penalties. (Sky News photo)
The game itself had been a bad-tempered affair, with eight players booked in total - six of them Colombians, including Wilmar Barrios, who was lucky to avoid red for a first-half headbutt on Henderson. England’s survived a test of nerve that will prove invaluable
England were dragged into it. England lived on the edge in those physical exchanges but the manner in which they survived and came through that test will add an extra layer to the satisfaction. And within the dogged team performance, individuals once more made their mark.
ing again performed solidly down England’s right. England will have taken a lot out of themselves in this physically gruelling and mentally taxing last-16 game and they now face the well-organised and resilient Swedes. If they can overcome Sweden, the possibility of a semi-fi-
Windies, Bangladesh clash in first Test today ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – A low profile two-Test series against once minnows Bangladesh will carry much weight for struggling West Indies, when it bowls off at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium here today. Having slumped to a historic low of ninth in the ICC Test rankings last May, the rubber against the dangerous Bangladeshis in familiar home conditions represents the ideal chance to climb back to eighth and begin their long trek back up the rankings. The Caribbean side gained five ratings points following their 1-1 draw in the recent three-Test series against Sri Lanka, and now lie within striking distance of eighth in the rankings on 72 points – three adrift of the Bangladeshis. A 1-0 series series win will see the Windies move to 75 points and Bangladesh drop to 69 while a series sweep will result in the hosts rising to 77 and their opponents slipping to 67. The permutations therefore highlight the importance
of a series win for the Jason Holder-led unit. Conversely, West Indies will also need to avoid a series defeat, as such an outcome will see the gains made against the Sri Lankans erased. They stand to lose four points with a 1-0 defeat and will concede a further point if they are swept by Bangladesh, who will then strengthen their hold on eighth spot. West Indies, however, will be heartened by some of their
performances during the recent series but will enter the Test here concerned by their mis-firing batting group. The top five – Kieran Powell (166), Roston Chase (123), Shai Hope (114), Kraigg Brathwaite (104) and Devon Smith (91) – all struggled for runs and managed only four half-centuries among them. Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich, adjudged Man-of-the-Series, led the batting with 288 runs at an average of 57 and was
West Indies captain Jason Holder
the only West Indies batsman to score a hundred. Holder, who excelled with the bat scoring 198 runs at nearly 40, will hope for a better showing from his specialist batsmen. Speedster Shannon Gabriel will once again lead the Windies attack fresh from his outstanding showing against Sri Lanka when he picked up 20 wickets. Holder, who took nine wickets in the last Test at Kensington Oval, finished the series with
nal meeting with Russia or Croatia comes into view. England found a way to win here that has often eluded them, digging deep in the process - and they will have headed back to their Zelenogorsk training HQ in soaring spirits. There is work to do, though, and this was not a flawless performance by any means. But England and Southgate now have power to add to the momentum they have regained following the loss to Belgium at this spectacular Russian World Cup. Referee Geiger lost the plot American referee Mike Geiger’s failure to clamp down on early misdemeanours led to him losing control of a game that Colombia seemed determined to turn into a battle. Instead of imposing his authority on proceedings with firm decision-making, he instead indulged in lengthy discussion with players from both sides on numerous occasions. It lead to Colombia, in particular, pushing him to the edge although England were not total innocents, with both Henderson and Harry Maguire leaving themselves open to accusations of being over-theatrical and many others sailing close to the wind. This would have been a tough night for any referee, with players clearly failing to respect his decisions, and making no attempt to make the official’s life easier, but it is to be hoped officials with a greater sense of authority are handed the huge games that remain here in Russia. Match stats - Kane sets best England run since 1939 England have won a penalty shootout at a major tournament for only the second time, also
beating Spain in Euro 96. England have qualified for the quarter-final of a World Cup for the first time since 2006. Colombia have lost three of their four knockout matches at the World Cup (also the last 16 in 1990 and the quarter-final in 2014). The team going first in a penalty shootout have now lost all three at the 2018 World Cup. Harry Kane became the first player to score in six consecutive England appearances since Tommy Lawton did so in 1939. Kane has scored six goals in his first three World Cup appearances for England - only three players have scored more in their first three matches; Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis (nine), Germany’s Gerd Muller (seven) and Argentina’s Guillermo Stabile (seven). The last England player to be fouled more often in a World Cup match than Kane in this match (nine) was Alan Shearer in 1998 against Tunisia (11). Kane has scored 14 goals in 10 England appearances under Gareth Southgate, scoring in all eight matches he has played as captain (12 goals). • Mina has scored in all three of his appearances at the World Cup, with all three headers. • Kane has scored six goals from six shots on target at the 2018 World Cup. • England conceded in injury time at the end of the second half for the first time in World Cup history, with Mina’s goal coming after 92 minutes and 33 seconds. • Eight of England's last 15 World Cup knockout matches have gone to extra time, with the first match in this run the 1966 World Cup final. (BBC Sport)
12 scalps while fellow seamer Kemar Roach had 11. Pacer Miguel Cummins, who managed just three wickets, will be a concern as will be leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo ended with four across the three Tests. West Indies will fancy their chances, especially based on past series against Bangladesh, as they have only lost once to the Asians – in 2009 when they fielded a depleted side because of a players strike. In 12 Tests, the Windies have won eight times, lost twice and drawn twice. The last time
they two teams met in the Caribbean four years ago, the hosts pulled off convincing wins in both Tests. Bangladesh, meanwhile, without a Test series win since thrashing minnows Zimbabwe four years ago, are expected to present a strong challenge. They served notice of their dangerous batting when they piled over 400 in the two-day tour match against CWI President’s XI last week, with experienced opener Tamim Iqbal and veteran Mahmudullah hitting exciting centuries.
Bangladesh experienced opener Tamim Iqbal
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES – Jason Holder (captain), Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith. BANGLADESH – Shakib Al Hasan (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmud Ullah, Litton Kumer Das, Mominul Haque, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Rubel Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Abu Jayed Chowdhury Rahi, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shafiul Islam.