England banish penalty curse to pass stiff Colombia test and reach World Cup quarter-final

This is a new England in one way for sure: through ten penalties, three misses and the psychological torment that the nation endures in such moments they emerged victorious for only the second tournament shoot-out in their history to reach the World Cup quarter-finals England are through to the last eight and this World Cup is already a success with this first victory in a knockout game at a tournament since 2006, but now the expectation has to be that England can make the semi-finals.

They face Sweden in Samara on Saturday and that already feels like a game more winnable than this was - an electrifying bolt goes through the national game at the thought of what is possible. They had been two minutes of injury time away from a place in the quarter-finals, engulfed by rage on all sides by a Colombia team that was driven on by their own sense of injustice and a refusal to be beaten.

AS IT HAPPENED: Colombia v England, last 16

READ MORE: England v Colombia player ratings

READ MORE: England beat Colombia on penalties to reach quarter finals

The equaliser from Yerry Mina in a England penalty area encompassing every Colombian other than the corner taker could have been another unforgettable wrong turn in the history of an England team but having won it once they went out and won it again.

After extra-time the penalties went down to the tenth decisive kick from Eric Dier, who laid the ghost of six penalty shoot-out failure to rest by beating the Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina. Jordan Pickford had saved the fourth from Carlos Bacca, and the previous had been crashed against the bar by Mateus Uribe.

READ MORE: England’s potential route to the final

READ MORE: Fans on Twitter couldn’t believe how ugly England v Colombia became

Jordan Henderson, history will note, also had his penalty saved, but instead of being a decisive moment it is simply a footnote to a splendid day for English football.

They had been so close once before and at that last corner of regulation time they led through a Harry Kane penalty, having handled the very best Colombia had served up, which was a lot of rage and intensity if not that much quality.

For the most part, Gareth Southgate’s players had kept their calm, moved the ball out from the back with patience, and when Kane had been given the opportunity he dispatched his sixth goal of the tournament from the spot. Kane had epitomised the best of England - cool under pressure, keeping possession, drawing fouls and dispatching his sixth goal of the tournament.

But there had been others too, including John Stones and Harry Maguire who had done nothing wrong in their defensive work or in the demands made of them to pass the ball out from the back.

READ MORE: Colombia try to rattle England by resorting to the dark arts

READ MORE: Who scored as Eric Dier scores and Three Lions win first ever World Cup shootout

What went wrong? In those last stages of the regulation 90 minutes, England fell back, Southgate opting for Eric Dier as a replacement for Dele Alli and that instinct towards safety first seemed to draw Colombia on to them and eventually they had broken through.

England had shaded the possession, and throughout they stuck to the new diktat that the ball is played out in all situations, however, close the opposition might be and however much an old English instinct tells them to treat it like a live stick of dynamite. It meant that at times they tap-danced on the edge, but to their credit they moved it quickly and fluently when they had to.

The Colombian fuse burned slowly but by the end of the first half it was already smouldering dangerously, Juan Cuadrado lost his patience with it all and tried a frantic one-man press of his own, charging after the ball as it was passed among England’s defenders.

The South Americans were without James Rodriguez, their chief playmaker and that hurt them, but in his absence they kept their shape in midfield and defence and tried to pick England off quickly when possession was handed over. There was a strong performance from the tall, powerful Barcelona centre-back Mina, who would later get the equaliser, and alongside him Tottenham Hotspur’s Davinson Sanchez.

The Colombians were as obstructive and awkward as they could be for the many first half set-pieces England had, doubling down on Kane and Harry Maguire and it was from a free-kick that the first key flashpoint emerged. That was a major jostle within a defensive wall and the midfielder Wilmar Barrios momentarily losing his cool with Jordan Henderson, thrusting his head into his chest and then upwards into the Liverpool man’s jaw. It was hard to tell why, only to say that the Colombians were right on the edge, including Cuadrado for much of the game and that meant they took risks.

In this instance the American referee Matt Geiger might have sent off Barrios but chose a yellow card without going to a VAR review.

Every time their defensive wall was challenged by a red shirt, the Colombians seemed to react and into extra-time their bench was in full revolt against every decision that went against them.

ENGLAND BEAT COLOMBIA ON PENALTIES: CLICK BELOW FOR SLIDESHOW

That intensity of mood and animosity just seemed to ratchet up and then the penalty came for England, as Colombia pushed too far at another defensive set-piece. Kane was at the back of a queue of four England players with the defender Carlos Sanchez inserted between them and as the striker broke forward he was held back before going down with the Colombian on his back.

In the minutes after his decision to give a penalty, the referee Geiger lost control, with the Colombians looming over him and drawing him over and again into discussions he did not need to be having.

It meant that Kane was obliged to wait until at last he struck his penalty, much more central than the previous two but David Ospina had already launched himself away to the right. The time that had been taken out of the game at that penalty would later come back to hurt England. They were forced to defend but survived a mistake: Kyle Walker letting in the substitute Bacca from whose pass Cuadrado missed the target wildly.

READ MORE: Joy of six - Kane equals 79-year-old England record

What caught England was Colombia’s power at set-pieces, and a final corner conceded when Pickford pushed a shot wide and up came every yellow shirt as well as Ospina to try to force the equaliser. It was Mina who got the ball, a downward header which bounced in front of Kieran Trippier and which the full-back headed upwards, as if he was trying to push over the bar instead of heading out.

The third minute of time added on, and the equaliser had come for Colombia their bench surging forward onto the pitch. It was their momentum after the break, a belief that they could not be denied now.

England had lost the impetus, Dier’s instincts more defensive and ahead of him Jamie Vardy, on for Sterling struggled to get into the game. Marcus Rashford came on and took one of the penalties at the end  - one of the four who signalled that a new England is here.

10:08PM

England have done it

10:07PM

Nervous times!

10:05PM

Jordan Pickford

"We never stopped. We knew we had this game. I am not the biggest keeper but I have power and agility to get me across the goal. It is about staying in the moment."

He admits that he thought he'd won the game for England in normal time with that wonderful save.

10:04PM

Not sure England covered themselves in glory

But I know where this person is coming from.

10:02PM

Delighted for Gareth

9:57PM

So what does that mean for England?

And their possible route to the World Cup Final? Find out with our predictor here...

9:52PM

England defeat Colombia on penalties

Four kicks to three. That's really great nerves from Eric Dier. He stepped up and slotted it away.

9:52PM

Eric Dier scores his spot kick

England win! England win! 

9:52PM

MISSES! Bacca!

Jordan Pickford has saved it. He dives, he sticks the trailing arm up and he has saved it.

Eric Dier has a spot kick to win it

9:51PM

SCORES! Trippier it's 3-3

Nice penalty. Top corner, smooth and sweet. Perfect. Well done son. England are back on level terms.

9:50PM

MISSES! Aribe! still 3-2 to Colombia 

He went high and it smashed on the under side of the bar. Oooh England! They are back in this.

Here comes Trippier.

9:49PM

MISSES! Henderson! 3-2 to Colombia

He puts it to the keeper's left, and it is a magnificent save. "But no disguise, he was always going to go that way," says Hoddle.

9:48PM

SCORES! Muriel 3-2 to Colombia  

Delicate, calm. Pickford dives right, Muriel tucks it left.

9:48PM

SCORES! Rashford and it is 2-2 

Rashford.... stutters a little, switches to the other side of the ball... but plants it perfectly into the bottom corner. Keeper guessed right.

9:47PM

SCORES! Cuadrado 2-1 to Colombia 

He crushes that. Pickford dives the right way but he had nae chance.

9:46PM

SCORES! Harry Kane and it is 1-1

Smacks it hard in the bottom corner, down to the keeper's right. Solid.

9:46PM

SCORES! Falcao 1-0 to Colombia

Smashed high and middle.

9:45PM

Advantage Colombia

They will shoot first.

According to our  The definitive guide to a penalty shootout: the rules, current techniques - and how to win 

the team that shoots first wins 60% of the time.

here is Falcao...

9:43PM

So... is it a new England? 

Or is it the same old England?

Gary Neville: "You always felt, this is it, it is our time. But it was not."

9:42PM

Jordan Pickford

Drinks some water, rolls his shoulders, he looks excited, bouncy.

Colombia have never had a shootout at the WC.

9:40PM

We got to penalties

Oh, England. England, England, England, England. What have they got left in the tank after that punishing, emotionally draining 120 minutes?

Colombia, it should be said, also look dog-tired.

9:39PM

Full time: Colombia 1 England 1

Cuadrado delivers it in. Half cleared by Stones. Colombia cannot fashion another opportunity to deliver the ball and we are going to penalties.

9:38PM

119 mins: Colombia 1 England 1             

Can either side fashion one last chance? Colombia it is who have the ball.

9:37PM

118 mins: Colombia 1 England 1            

They deliver it in well. Ospina flaps it away. Trippier with the long throw. Colombia's turn to look panicky now, they hack it clear, anywhere will do.

9:36PM

117 mins: Colombia 1 England 1           

Bad foul by Cuadrado on Rose. Yellow. England have a freekick, decent position as well.

9:35PM

116 mins: Colombia 1 England 1          

A deep ball into the box aimed at Falcao, it comes off Dier and goes behind for a... goal kick! Should have been a corner. Colombia rightly unhappy.

9:34PM

115 mins: Colombia 1 England 1         

Arias coming off. Zapata coming on. That was a really good spell ofr England over the last ten minutes, but now Colombia are looking the peppier again.

9:33PM

114 mins: Colombia 1 England 1        

England win a corner when Vardy and Lingard combine. And go close from it! Eric Dier with the header wide. As good a chance as you could wish for.

9:31PM

112 mins: Colombia 1 England 1       

Walker is coming off. Dier goes into the back three. Rashford is coming on. More pace and threat for England to use, more worries for this tiring Colombian defence.

9:30PM

110 mins: Colombia 1 England 1      

Maguire is playing a long way up the pitch. Lingard and Henderson with a fine move....  here is Broadway Danny Rose arriving like an express train down the left. He's burned through the defence and drilled it across goal. So, so close.

9:29PM

110 mins: Colombia 1 England 1     

This is better from England. Couple of these Colombian backs look knackered, no fun facing Vardy. This is a good spell from England. Muriel with an important tackle.

9:26PM

108 mins: Colombia 1 England 1    

Pickford rushes out of the area and hacks clear. Judged that well.

9:25PM

107 mins: Colombia 1 England 1   

Vardy's onside this time. Sent through after some ping-ponging in the midfield. Scuffs it. 

9:24PM

106 mins: Colombia 1 England 1  

Within perhaps 18 seconds of the restart, what looks like a great chance from Vardy. Hits it straight at the keeper. Ah, offside.

Stones has put the ball out under no pressure. Ick.

9:22PM

ITV verdicts

Lee Dixon: "England look tired and broken."

Ian Wright: "Harry Kane is not able to get involved. England are like a boxer clinging on."

Gary Neville: "This is mental, not physical."

It is true. England look a different side to their confident best.

9:20PM

105 mins: Colombia 1 England 1 

Muriel fouls Trippier, and then abuses him. Cheers, mate. 

Anyway, that is the end of the first half of extra time.

9:18PM

Blimey

9:17PM

104 mins: Colombia 1 England 1

Oooh, England. It's squeaky bum now. Colombia get down the left, and cross. Falcao has got in between Maguire and Stones but, under pressure from the former, heads it wide.

9:15PM

102 mins: Colombia 1 England 1                        

Ashley Young, who is not moving too well, is coming off. Broadway Danny Rose comes on.

Ashley Young won't get to miss a penno, then.

This captures Gareth quite well.

9:15PM

100 mins: Colombia 1 England 1                       

Colombia getting a lot of time on the ball. Cuadrado has an age to measure up a cross. Played in. England bundle it behind for a corner.

Mina and Sanchez get in each other's way. Just as well - either of them would have had a decent heading opportunity there.

9:13PM

99 mins: Colombia 1 England 1                      

Neither side creating much.

9:11PM

97 mins: Colombia 1 England 1                     

Two balls on the pitch, Pickford is playing with one, Colombia with the other! Colombia kick one of the balls into the net but, as you would imagine, the ref says no goal.

England look tired, ragged.

9:08PM

94 mins: Colombia 1 England 1                    

Long throw form Colombia, Lingard does well to clear.

9:08PM

94 mins: Colombia 1 England 1                   

I wonder how much heart England have got. It's Colombia who are playing the ball around now, looking more composed. One or two desperate tackles starting to come from England.

9:05PM

92 mins: Colombia 1 England 1                  

Young studs up into the shin of Barrios. Both players found that sore. Young very lucky there.

9:04PM

91 mins: Colombia 1 England 1                 

Right then. How's your nerves?

9:03PM

Gareth Southgate

8:59PM

End of normal time: Colombia 1 England 1

Oh England! They were so close. Pickford's wonder save led to a corner, and then a superb header from Barcelona centre half Yerry Mina to force extra time.

8:58PM

90+ mins: Colombia 1 England 1                

Mina is limping and clutching his privates! Ha ha ha ha. Has he hurt himself in the celebrations? This is hilarious stuff. I reckon that was about 93 minuets the goal, and then two minutes of mucking about.

It's England who are making the running. No way through. England lose out. Cuadrado comes with a run... and the referee blows the final whistle.

8:56PM

GOAL! Colombia 1 England 1 (Mina 90+)

Oh England! Oh no! From the corner, a wonderful leap from Yerry Mina. Bullet header, no chance for the keeper and would you believe it, Colombia are level. He charges into the crowd to celebrate. Maguire the missing man there I am afraid - he's lost concentration and Mina's had him on toast.

8:54PM

90+ mins: Colombia 0 England 1               

Aribe has let rip from 35 yards, it's a magnificent strike and it is an even better save. Woof!  Pickford take a bow. Tips it behind for a corner at full stretch. Keeper up for the corner...

8:53PM

90+ mins: Colombia 0 England 1              

Freekick after freekick. No complaints from England.

8:52PM

90 mins: Colombia 0 England 1             

There will be five (long) minutes of extra time. Five minutes before England can celebrate their first knockout win SINCE 2006.

8:51PM

87 mins: Colombia 0 England 1            

Sterling comes off, a hug from Gareth, and he is replaced by Vardy. England under a little pressure but nothing too drastic. 

Quintero is replaced by Muriel.

8:49PM

87 mins: Colombia 0 England 1           

Falcao, finally, starting to really influence this. Picks it up on the edge of the area and threads a daisycutter through the crowd. Easy for Pickford.

8:48PM

86 mins: Colombia 0 England 1          

Cuadrado great cross. Falcao is lurking but his own man has got in his way! Davinson Sanchez will be getting a rocket later. Now another cross, from the other flank. Falcao again.... but that's great defending from Henderson, making it very hard for the Colombian.

8:45PM

83 mins: Colombia 0 England 1         

Trippier with an accurate freekick. Maguire should have done better with the header across goal.

8:44PM

81 mins: Colombia 0 England 1        

Kane, nice pass, Lingard cannot control it. Better technique and he's away there.

8:44PM

81 mins: Colombia 0 England 1       

Dier to Walker... terrible individual error from Walker. He's tried to play it back to the keeper and just dished it up for the Colombians. They break, this is a massive chance, it's out to Cuadrado on the right... oh, hopeless. Wild and woolly shot. 

8:42PM

79 mins: Colombia 0 England 1      

Dele Alli is coming off. Eric Dier is coming on, the plan obviously being to bolster the central midfield.

8:41PM

78 mins: Colombia 0 England 1     

Qunitero, to Falcao. Good hold up play. But the move flounders as, I think, Mojica makes a foul.

Carlos Sanchez, who must have been v close to a second yellow, comes off. Uribe on.

I'd get Vardy on: he likes the agg, and his pace might well draw a foul on the break.

8:39PM

75 mins: Colombia 0 England 1    

15 minutes to go, and Colombia are (belatedly) putting some pressure on. Henderson heads clear. England can break. Sterling.... frees Lingard.... he is tackled. England think it's a pen.... ref says no.

8:36PM

74 mins: Colombia 0 England 1   

A useful position for Kane is struck from the record due to offside.

No changes yet from Gareth.

8:35PM

72mins: Colombia 0 England 1  

"There's the love train again" says Hoddle of the crowd scene in the box as England take their sixth corner. I have no speech.

Corner comes to nothing.

8:31PM

69 mins: Colombia 0 England 1 

Lingard gets a booking for a nibble at Carlos Sanchez. "Good refereeing, a stupid booking, Colombia were going towards their own goal."

I strongly fancy a big VAR controversy and/or a sending off here. Colombia are a right mob, but don't kid yourself that England have been saints. Henderson Neymared it up when that bloke got him with the head, and Maguire dived to try and get a pen.

8:29PM

66 mins: Colombia 0 England 1

Sterling with some gorgeous skill down the left, slips it to Young. Whose cross is decent, but there is nobody there. Young got a knock as he crossed that.

8:27PM

64 mins: Colombia 0 England 1   

Game is boiling over. Another booking. It's Bacca, who has only been on as a sub for a few minutes, and he has fouled Stones.

Bacca is a midfielder, he's on for the defensive midfielder Lerna.

8:26PM

61 mins: Colombia 0 England 1  

Harry Maguire dives in the box under pressure from D Sanchez.

But now a gilt-edged chance! Good move from England, a ball to the back post and Dele Alli has missed the header from close range!

Falcao is booked for yelling at the referee, I think about the Maguire incident.

8:24PM

61 mins: Colombia 0 England 1 

Almost zero actual football being played. Ref whistling like an untended kettle, neither side is covering itself in glory with the niggly, sly fouls and the playacting.

8:21PM

58 mins: Colombia 0 England 1

Stones and Falcao tangle, the England man seems to have flicked a boot at Falcao's ear as he lay on the floor. Falcao, as you might imagine, makes a meal of it.

Chris Waddle on the BBC: "The referee is not strong enough and he has no control over the game."

8:19PM

GOAL! Colombia 0 England 1 (Kane 57p)

He waits for the keeper to go and he mullers it straight down the centre. Well done Harry Kane. 

That is his sixth goal of the World Cup.

8:18PM

Here comes Harry Kane

Three minutes have passed. Come on Harry.

8:15PM

Penalty to England!

And rightly so. The holding has been ridiculous.

Carlos Sanchez is booked. It's an absolutely clear penalty.

But the Colombian players are still protesting two, three minutes later. They're partly protesting and they're partly trying to rattle Kane, and they are also using the opportunity to scuff up the penalty spot. Ha. These guys are hilarious.

Henderson back headbutts a Colombian and is booked.

8:14PM

52 mins: Colombia 0 England 0   

Arias on 'Arry Kane. Fouled him. Barged the England man in the back and gets a yellow.

Excellent freekick. Young aims it at three England men rushing towards the back stick. D Sanchez again with a vital header.

8:12PM

50 mins: Colombia 0 England 0  

Lingard plays it short to Alli but, to my eyes, his mobility is not right and he cannot gather the ball. He's easily dispossessed. Gareth is going to have to change this, surely?

8:11PM

49 mins: Colombia 0 England 0 

It's a dire start to the second period, I have to tell you. Here's the Archbish though.

8:08PM

46 mins: Colombia 0 England 0

It's the Colombians who have the ball at the start of this half.

Dele Alli is playing. But is he fit?

8:07PM

Second half underway

8:06PM

Better pic of that Coach v Sterling

Colombians have been trying to make this bitty and scrappy.

7:59PM

Mark Clattenburg on ITV explains it well.

"Clearly violent conduct, he knows what he is doing, that is pre-mediated. The VAR man should have called the ref over to have a look and let the referee make the correct call, which is a red card for violent conduct.

It is not a penalty kick because the ball is dead so the restart is a freekick."

Gareth Southgate gestured: "headbutt" at the officials.

7:58PM

Neville on Henderson

"I have accused England of being naive in the past but Henderson has gone there and he didn't need to."

Colombia created next to nothing.

7:55PM

As Sterling came off at half time

One of the Colombian coaching staff elbowed/body-checked him! Gary Neville: "That coach is a numpty for doing that."

7:52PM

Half time: Colombia 0 England 0

Not a great half of football, you have to say, but it had its interests. England had the better of it. They had that Ashley Young freekick on target and Harry Kane headed onto the roof of the net. Colombia have some very impressive defenders, Mina has got through a shift. Hope Dele Alli is okay to continue.

There's been a lot of shoving and pushing. One moment will get most of the analysis: an apparent butt on Jordan Henderson.

7:49PM

45+ mins: Colombia 0 England 0     

Half time is being delayed, and I am afraid it is bad news for England fans: Dele Alli is coming off the pitch. Thigh. Not yet clear if he will be subbed off. England down to ten while they wait for half-time.

7:48PM

45+ mins: Colombia 0 England 0    

England with a useful cross, it drops for Lingard, whose shot over is lacking in technique and direction.

7:47PM

45 mins: Colombia 0 England 0    

A good move from Colombia. Falaco (who IS in fact playing this match despite what you might think) and Arrias tee it up for Qunitero who hits the target, but tamely.

7:46PM

44 mins: Colombia 0 England 0   

First signs of frustration? Harry Kane has hit one from long range, well wide.

Meanwhile, Sterling and Mina are having a wrestling match - something of a mismatch on size. The Colombian goes down. Bit theatrically, I thought. Lots of gesticulating and carrying-on from both players.

7:44PM

42 mins: Colombia 0 England 0  

Danny Murphy: "It has to be a penalty and a red card. That is ridiculous. What is the point having VAR if someone headbutts someone in the face and not get sent off? You can't headbutt someone and not get a red card. That is ludicrous."

This is going to be a talking point.

Dele Alli is holding his thigh...

7:43PM

40 mins: Colombia 0 England 0 

Eventually Trippier takes the freekick, and whips it wide. Near enough to produce an "Oooooooeeeee" in the office... but not really near enough to get the keeper too bothered.

Paul Hawyard: "Good movement and intent from England but everything currently breaking down on the edge of the final third, where Yerry Mina is mightily impressive for Colombia."

7:42PM

39 mins: Colombia 0 England 0

Quite a lot of shoving and nastiness in the box. Barrios has butted Henderson in the chest and then under the chin and that has hurt Henderson. Henderson goes down.

There is a delay. I think VAR is checking this... the upshot is that Barrios is booked.

7:39PM

37 mins: Colombia 0 England 0                  

England playing with the sort of patience we tend not to see from them. Slow build up. Kane drives towards the box. Fouled by Lerma. 

This is a handy spot for a free.

7:37PM

35 mins: Colombia 0 England 0                 

A quiet spell. England now able to play it out from the back.

Kane points to where he wants the ball, Henderson tries to find him but just overhits the pass a tiny bit.

7:35PM

Lovely work as ever

7:33PM

32 mins: Colombia 0 England 0                

Cuadrado and Maguire shoulder barge each other, and then there's a bit of afters. Game could do with some argy bargy, perhaps.

Falcao with some nice back-to-goal play, feeds Quintero, who should have done a lot better with the shot.

7:31PM

30 mins: Colombia 0 England 0               

Sterling and D Sanchez are having a battle royale down that England right. Sterling has got away from him here and manages to shoot, but into a wall of Colombians.

England on top, but only really that Ashley Young freekick and the Kane near-impossible header in the 'chances' column. Colombia: none at all.

7:30PM

29 mins: Colombia 0 England 0              

Trippier bundles Falcao over and gives him a very gentle shoeing, probably accidentally, as he falls. There's a bit of ill feeling.

7:29PM

28 mins: Colombia 0 England 0             

Sterling, to Alli, who tries a cool little flick pass but finds no way through. 

This is a tight game between two well-matched teams.

7:27PM

25 mins: Colombia 0 England 0            

Carlos Sanchez fouls D Alli. Carlos Sanchez is the guy who was sent off earlier in the tournament.

Nice freekick, aimed at Harry Maguire at the back stick. Excellent defending from D Sanchez. Heads it behind for the corner.

7:24PM

23 mins: Colombia 0 England 0           

Just signs of things starting to happen for the men in yellow. Quintero able to pass to Cuadrado a couple of times, the former Chelsea man getting a couple of half opportunities to pin his ears back and run at England.

7:23PM

22 mins: Colombia 0 England 0          

And it is played into Falcao! John Stones has to step in sharpish, dispossesses the danger man.

7:22PM

21 mins: Colombia 0 England 0         

Colombians passing it about, stretching, probing.

7:21PM

20mins: Colombia 0 England 0        

Colombia seem happy enough to soak up this pressure so far.

A first bit of possession now for them really.

7:19PM

19 mins: Colombia 0 England 0       

England with a spell. Nice ball out to Trippier on the right but he cannot capitalise.

Colombia have hardly been out of their half.

7:17PM

16 mins: Colombia 0 England 0      

Lingard gets into the space behind the left back, Trippier gets down the byline, crosses. Kane does really well to get a header on it from a narrow angle. Heads it onto the roof of the net.

I suppose you could call it a missed chance, but the laws of physics were not Harry's friends there.

7:15PM

15 mins: Colombia 0 England 0     

England on the front foot. Colombia have barely been out of their own half. And they are not pressing the England backs all that much when England have it, so Stones et all have time to play it around.

7:13PM

13 mins: Colombia 0 England 0    

Mistake from the Colombian defence, suddenly Sterling has a chance to shoot... fires it right at the defender.

Paul Hayward writes: "We're very close to the pitch in the press seats and it's already obvious England 's first XI are in a very different game to the Tunisia and Panama matches. Everything happening much faster and Colombia are pressing the player in possession quicker. But England have looked to play incisive passes and were mentally switched in from the start."

7:11PM

10 mins: Colombia 0 England 0   

Another corner for England. Referee is going to have his hands full of players with their hands full tonight: a lot of wrestling in the area at these set pieces.  England's attackers are the ones penalised on this occasion, though.

7:08PM

7 mins: Colombia 0 England 0  

England are on top. A quick freekick - I like England's hustle tonight - and Sterling makes a darting run. Colombia have to put it out for another corner. Headed away by Sanchez... and Colombia can break! Pacy break but England have numbers back and it's cleared up okay.

7:06PM

5 mins: Colombia 0 England 0 

Sterling down the left, Mina slides in and handles the ball on the floor. Young has a chance to deliver it in.

He whips a shot at goal! Kane nearly gets across the keeper... punched clear. The ball is played back in right away though, and England win a corner.

Straight to the keeper though, this one.

7:04PM

3 mins: Colombia 0 England 0

Sterling is fouled, Kane takes a freekick quickly but his clubmate Davinson Sanchez is there to sort things out.

England look up for it, playing with purpose albeit not able to fashion anything approaching an opportunity yet.

7:02PM

2 mins: Colombia 0 England 0

Walker, nice work down the right and a ball into Kane, skillfully flicked on. But Barrios, an imposing stopper, puts an end to any nonsense.

7:01PM

1 mins: Colombia 0 England 0

Colombia, in their lovely yellow, kick off. England red shorts, socks and shirts. Alli gives the ball away early against Cuadrado but there's nothing doing.

Colombia: Ospina, Arias, Mina, Davinson Sanchez, Mojica,  Barrios, Carlos Sanchez, Lerma, Cuadrado, Quintero, Falcao.  Subs: Vargas, Zapata, Murillo, Bacca, Aguilar, Muriel, Uribe,  Diaz, Izquierdo, Cuadrado.

England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier, Alli,  Henderson, Lingard, Young, Sterling, Kane. Subs: Butland, Rose,  Dier, Vardy, Welbeck, Cahill, Jones, Rashford, Loftus-Cheek,  Alexander-Arnold, Pope.

Referee: Mark Geiger (USA) 

7:00PM

Colombia formation

6:59PM

England formation

6:58PM

England lads shoulder to shoulder

all of them singing it. Gareth and his staff on the bench, also arms around each other.

Pickford's singing is brutal! Ha ha. Don't give up the day job, Jordan.

6:56PM

Anthem time! Colombia first

The players and the fans are really belting it out! England are in an away fixture here!

6:55PM

James... Anderson?

6:53PM

Colombia fans

6:53PM

England fans

6:50PM

Good grief

6:47PM

Jason Burt on James Rodriguez

"James Rodriguez's calf was still too swollen and there was no point giving him an injection so he cannot even be risked as a sub."

6:47PM

Here's Gareth Southgate-Badger

"We have to play with our way, our identity. But we have to make  intelligent decisions as well."

It is put to him that the Colombian coach says Colombia will be more battle hardened because they were not rested.

"Well, that's irrelevant really.

"We have players who started at small clubs, have battled through, have come through the ranks. We have to play with humility and we have to express ourselves as well."

6:41PM

Great movie poster project

I loved this from the artist James Taylor (not the singer-songwriter, or the tiny former England cricketer)... He's re-imagined key moments in football history via the medium of movie posters. 

 Check out James Taylor's From Stadio To Studio

6:37PM

England fans outnumbered

Colombians everywhere!

6:34PM

Pathetic rip-off

6:21PM

Teams

Colombia: Ospina, Arias, Mina, Davinson Sanchez, Mojica,  Barrios, Carlos Sanchez, Lerma, Cuadrado, Quintero, Falcao.  Subs: Vargas, Zapata, Murillo, Bacca, Aguilar, Muriel, Uribe,  Diaz, Izquierdo, Cuadrado.

England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier, Alli,  Henderson, Lingard, Young, Sterling, Kane. Subs: Butland, Rose,  Dier, Vardy, Welbeck, Cahill, Jones, Rashford, Loftus-Cheek,  Alexander-Arnold, Pope.

Referee: Mark Geiger (USA) 

6:20PM

Here is a bit of info on the Spartak Stadium

6:18PM

Ben Rumsby reports from the Spartak Stadium

6:16PM

James Rodriguez

is not even going to be on the bench. He will play no part. That's a shame for the player, the team and the tournament... but not for England!

6:14PM

Colombia formation

It looks like the South Americans are going for a 4-3-2-1 formation, bit more defensive than they have been in previous matches, but that is the set-up that Pekerman used in the tougher qualifiers.

Ospina in goal

Centre halves are Mina and Davinson Sanchez of Tottenham. Arias right back, Mojica on the left.

Carlos Sanchez plays in the centre of midfield with Barrios on the right and Lerma on the left.

Then Cuadrado as a right-sided attacker and the playmaker Quintero on the left, although that will be fluid.

Falcao up top.

6:10PM

Local hero

Jefferson Lerma played in the first match - defeat by Japan - and there's a nice vid on YouTube of his tiny home town coming out to watch him.

6:06PM

Legend speaks

6:05PM

The teams

6:03PM

Colombia team

Ospina, Arias, Barrios, C Sanchez, Falcao, Cuadrado, Y Mina, J Lerma, J Mojica, J Quintero, D Sanchez

erm that's by shirt numbers

5:58PM

James Rodriguez is not in the XI

big blow for Colombia. Not even clear if he is on the bench.

5:56PM

Kirsty MacColl

Been some love about for this  song today online.

5:53PM

Ticky taker

5:51PM

England team

England revert to the same XI that started the World Cup

Dele Alli returns in place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek in midfield, the Tottenham man having missed the last two games due to a thigh injury.

None of the eight players drafted in for the defeat by Belgium hold their spot.

Ashley Young keeps Danny Rose out at left wing-back and Raheem Sterling is preferred to Marcus Rashford as Harry Kane's partner up front.

5:48PM

Some guest list

Maradona a big fan of all things Colombian.

5:46PM

England: Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli start

Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire,  Trippier, Young, Henderson, Alli, Lingard, Sterling, Kane. 

5:45PM

Here is the England team

5:45PM

England in red

5:43PM

Calm the nerves with some lovely photography

5:38PM

If... 

... and this is a big 'if'... but IF England win today, what would their path to the final look like?

5:35PM

England fans are getting ready

5:30PM

Brent!

5:29PM

Colombia's strengths and weaknesses

5:28PM

Who do you think will win?

Explore the options with our England vs Colombia match predictor.

5:27PM

Talking of penalties

This is a brilliant and in-depth analysis of the history, rules and technique of a penalty shootout.

The definitive guide to a penalty shootout: the rules, current techniques - and how to win

5:25PM

A nation waits

5:24PM

These do look exceptional, I must say

5:16PM

James Rodriguez latest

this comes from a Colombian-based journalist

not confirmed yet though.

5:14PM

Or if you're more into nightmares than dreams 

PENALTY HORROR INCOMING? 

Surely, sooner or later, England are going to start having a bit more success in shootouts?

Relive the shockers here. 

5:13PM

If you're more of punter 

than a dreamer, how about this betting offer? Best betting offers for England v Colombia - including 4/1 on Harry Kane to score any time (winnings paid in cash)

5:11PM

Dare to Dream

Paul Hayward puts it nicely: if we cannot dream now, then what's the point of it all?

5:09PM

Much seems to depend on the brilliant James

But Colombia are far from being a one-man outfit. Here, JJ Bull gives you the tactical lowdown on a tricky opponent:

Talking tactics: What England must be wary of in tricky Colombia clash - and what they can exploit

I really enjoyed this piece. Learned lots.

5:06PM

No need to Google it, my friend

we will have that news as soon as it breaks.

4:54PM

Is this England's time?

Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane and company have a big opportunity. Yet another decent side (Switzerland) are out and we now know that one of England, Colombia, Sweden, Russia and Croatia will be in the World Cup final! You'd have to take that as an England fan, right?

But Colombia will be feeling very much the same. The bookies make England 8-15 favourites to qualify with the Colombians at 6-4. I'm not too sure about that. I reckon this is as close as it gets. For the Colombian side, much hangs of the fitness of James Rodriguez, who will have a (very) late fitness test this afternoon. The Colombian manager, Jose Pekerman, has said that he will make the decision as late as he possibly can in order to give his star man the best possible chance of playing a part. We will have to wait for the team news to know.

As for England, well: does this feel like the start of something very special? They have got a solid defence, they have a proper goalscorer in Kane, they've got some pace. Perhaps more importantly, they seem to have a good team ethic, to be a solid bunch of lads who might enjoy the occasion rather than shrink in it. If it goes to penalties, well, then we will find out. It should be said that England will face Colombia in the last 16 having not won a knockout match at a major finals since beating Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup. It's not the most inspiring record.

But maybe this is the time. Is Football Coming Home?