History from the spot

Three Lions dump Colombia 4-3 to seal their first win via penalty shootout in World Cup  

After three haunting failures, England finally won a penalty shootout at the World Cup. And it happened under a coach who for 22 years has taken the blame for a previous shootout loss at a major tournament.

England advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals by beating Colombia 4-3 in a shootout following a 1-1 draw  on Tuesday, sending Gareth Southgate running onto the field to celebrate the end of the national team's years of misfortune.

"It will never be off my back, sadly. That's something that will live with me forever," Southgate said of his 1996 shootout failure. "But today is a special moment for this team. I hope it will give belief to generations of players that follow, because they can see what is possible in life."

England will next play Sweden on Saturday in Samara. The 1966 champions have reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since the David Beckham era, when a golden generation exited in the last eight in 2002 and 2006.

"We have to see what is possible and not be hindered by history or the expectations," Southgate said. "I think these young players are showing that."

Eric Dier scored the decisive kick after a scrappy game went through 30 minutes of extra time, denying Colombia a second consecutive trip to the quarterfinals.

"It was a nervous one," Dier said. "I've never really been in a situation like that before."

Harry Kane scored his tournament-leading sixth goal to give England the lead with a penalty kick in the 57th minute. Colombia scrambled for an equalizer and finally got it when Yerry Mina headed in a corner in the third minute of stoppage time.

"To get knocked down at the end like we did at the end, it's difficult to come back from that," Dier said. "But we were ready for that. We were calm. We stuck to our plan."

England trailed 3-2 in the penalty shootout after Jordan Henderson's shot was saved by David Ospina, but Mateus Uribe hit the bar and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford then stopped Carlos Bacca's kick.

"I did a whole bunch of research," Pickford said. "Falcao is the only one who didn't go his way. I don't care if I'm not the biggest keeper in the world. I have the power and agility."

Pickford succeeded where Peter Shilton, David Seaman and Paul Robinson failed as the 1990, 1998 and 2006 World Cups ended in shootout losses. On top of that, England was knocked out of the 1996 European Championship semifinals and the quarterfinals in 2004 and 2012 on penalties. The country's only shootout success came earlier at Euro '96.

Southgate's penalty in the 1996 shootout at Wembley against Germany was stopped, a failure he has lived with for 22 years.

"Penalty shootouts are lot about mentality and obviously we know England in the past haven't done great," Kane said. "So, it's nice to get that one off our back and we'll have huge belief moving forward."

SCRAPPY

There was edginess from the start, with Colombia forward Juan Cuadrado and England defender Harry Maguire involved in a spat before Radamel Falcao barged into Kieran Trippier, sparking the England defender to retaliate.

Colombia nearly lost Wilmar Barrios to a red card late in the first half. But after a video review, Barrios was given a yellow for knocking his head into the chest of Jordan Henderson.

ENGLAND'S LEAD

England was awarded its penalty when Kane was knocked to the ground by Carlos Sanchez.

Of his six goals, three have come from the penalty spot. He also netted England's first in the shootout.

Kane is the first England player to score in six straight appearances since Tommy Lawton in 1939.

"It's a big night for England," Kane said.

COLOMBIA COMPLAINTS

Colombia had 23 fouls and six yellow cards while England had 13 fouls and two yellows.

Still, Colombia coach Jose Pekerman wasn't happy with the English approach.

"When there are so, so many fouls and interruptions, I think that's not good," Pekerman said. "We shouldn't only look at Colombian players. People should also look at England's players."

Star night for Pickford

When Carlos Bacca stepped up to take Colombia's fifth and final penalty, Pickford knew he was likely to shoot to the left.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper, in just his seventh England appearance, trusted his research and leaped. Research wasn't enough on its own - he also needed lightning reactions to shoot his left arm up to paw away Bacca's high shot.

The save gave England's Eric Dier a chance to win the shootout , and he converted. England moved on 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

"I did a whole bunch of research," Pickford said, his confidence sky-high. "(Radamel) Falcao is the only one who didn't go his way. I don't care if I'm not the biggest keeper in the world. I have the power and agility."

Pickford was just two years old when England last won a penalty shootout, a few days older when the now-England coach Gareth Southgate missed the deciding penalty in a European Championship semifinal loss to Germany. That defeat at home was treated almost as a national trauma, as was the penalty loss to Argentina two years later.

To get knocked down at the end like we did with that goal in extra time, it's difficult to come back from that. But we did, We knew what we had to do, we stayed calm, we stuck to our plan, we never panicked all the way.

—eric dier (english player)

I did a whole bunch of research, (Radamel) Falcao is the only one who didn't go his way. I don't care if I'm not the biggest keeper in the world. I have the power and agility. We knew we had this game even if it went to penalties

—jordan pickford (english Keeper)

It was a tremendous blow. We did not deserve to lose, we have done more than England and the pity is that we could not decide [the game] before the penalties. It is a blow for the whole group. I thank God because he allowed me to score another important goal for my country, and I really thought that in the extra time we could win

—yerry mina (colombian defender)

There were so many interruptions in the game, far too many interruptions. That hasn't been good for us. It hurt our side a lot

—Jose Pekerman (colombia coach)

Today is a special moment for this team. I hope it will give belief to generations of players that follow, because they can see what is possible in life

—Gareth southgate