England’s penalty and first shootout win on 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
‘England cannot win a FIFA World Cup shootout’ was one of the longest-standing myths that followed the English representation. Yesterday Gareth Southgate’s players have debunked that myth exhausted and bruised, yet elated. They celebrated the win on an emotional level with the fans on the Spartak Stadium pitch. From the penalty spot their place in the quarter-finals has been booked, and that’s something that had haunted so many Englishmen before them.
2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
Southgate gave precise instructions to his players to take care of business and stay focused within those 90 minutes, so the penalty spots weren’t the plan at all. After Yerry Mina’s late equalizer the doubt crept in and many supporters to social Media started posting ‘we all know how this ends’. Yet, the New England showed the contrary and started changing the course of history.
To the question: Was it beneficial to have sacrificed the lead and broken the legendary penalty curse? – Southgate said: “I think for the belief of this group of players, and groups of players to come, it was a really important moment, not just winning the shootout, but having to suffer at the end of the game in a stadium where our fans were outnumbered five to one. The fans were brilliant, but just because of the numbers it felt like an away fixture. We’ve spoken to the players about writing their own stories. Tonight was a classic. They don’t have to conform to what’s gone before, so it was a great night for everyone involved in the team.”
Pure drama brought the shootout itself. Enjoying another strong performance, Kieran Trippier kept his composure to convert where Henderson had, moments earlier, been denied. After a tip-toed run-up, Eric Dier’s kick powered past David Ospina’s will to seal the win. Jordan Pickford’s acrobatic save to stop Mateus Uribe’s attempt was lauded by Southgate and he will be a name for England fans to recall on for generations to come.
The coach said: “It was a top-class save. His athleticism around the goal is excellent. He executed the plan in the penalty shootout. We’d studied all their takers, and a great credit to all the staff and to him for taking on board that information and preparing in the right way.”
However, Southgate’s own spot-kick demons live long in the memory. Against Germany, at UEFA EURO 1996 he missed a penalty and the nightmare resurfaced after England has been qualified from Group G this time around. History can never be rewritten, but England can change a habit.
Southgate admits: “Well, it will never be off my back, sadly. That’s something that will live with me forever. But today is a special moment for this team. It’ll hopefully give belief to the generations of players that will follow. “
England’s penalty and first shootout win on 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia