SPORT Wednesday 4 July 2018 PAGEE | 1919 PAGEPAG | 24 Bring on Brazil,l, saysay SwedenSwed edge past Belgium after dramaticmatic SSwitzerlandwitz to book Japan victoryctory plaplacece in quarter-finals YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Pickford the hero as Kane’s boys end SWEDEN 1-0 SWITZERLAND penalty jinx to reach quarter-finals COLOMBIA 1-1 ENGLAND ENGLAND WIN ON PENALTIES (3 - 4) QUARTER FINALS JULY 06, 2018 URUGUAY VS FRANCE 5.00PM BRAZIL VS BELGIUM 9.00PM JULY 07, 2018 SWEDEN VS ENGLAND 5.00PM RUSSIA VS CROATIA 9.00PM England’s Jordan Pickford saves a penalty from Colombia’s Carlos Bacca during the shootout at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow, Russia yesterday. England prevail in Moscow thriller AFP Kane made the breakthrough on 57 minutes after he was MOSCOW: England edged wrestled to the ground at a corner Colombia 4-3 on penalties to halt by Carlos Sanchez, the same a run of five successive shootout player who was shown the first defeats at major tournaments and red card of the tournament in a book a quarter-final clash against COLOMBIA ENGLAND 2-1 loss to Japan. Sweden at the World Cup. The England captain faced a Harry Kane fired England 1 1 lengthy wait as several Colombia ahead with his tournament- players protested to the referee leading sixth goal just before the Y. MINA - 90'+3' KANE - 57' PEN but he kept his nerve to beat hour in Moscow, converting a ENGLAND WIN ON PENALTIESPENALTIES (3 - 4) north London rival Ospina, penalty after he was hauled down lifting his penalty just over the by Carlos Sanchez at a corner. Arsenal goalkeeper’s out- Gareth Southgate’s team stretched leg. looked to be heading into the last Alli nearly added a second eight in regulation time until when his diving header at the far Yerry Mina equalised with a post flashed over the bar, with 93rd-minute header as the giant Lingard appealing for another Colombian defender scored for spot-kick after he was caught by the third game in a row. Davinson Sanchez. Neither team could find an Juan Cuadrado blazed over advantage in extra-time and so with 10 minutes to play, and it a bad-tempered match went to appeared Colombia’s hopes were a nailbiting penalty shootout. up when Pickford made a terrific David Ospina dived superbly save to turn behind Manuel to his left to repel Jordan Hend- Uribe’s spectacular long-range erson’s third penalty for England, strike. but Manuel Uribe hit the crossbar But Mina rose powerfully to before Jordan Pickford saved meet the resulting corner, with from Carlos Bacca. Trippier only able to help the ball Eric Dier drilled home the in via the underside of the decisive spot-kick as England England players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout. crossbar in the third minute of won for just the second time in added-on time. eight penalty shootouts and Substitute Danny Rose almost reached the quarter-finals for the in Brazil four years ago, when Kane scored a combined five Kieran Trippier curled wide from while Jesse Lingard sliced over struck an extra-time winner first time since 2006. Colombia reached the quarter- goals in the wins over Tunisia and a free-kick. after Colombia half-cleared a when his angled shot whistled Colombia were dealt a huge finals for the first time. Panama, and the Tottenham Wilmar Barrios was booked cross. beyond the far post, and Eric Dier blow before kick-off as James Kane, Raheem Sterling and striker went close when his for leaning his head into the chest A member of the Colombia headed over unmarked at a Rodriguez failed to shake off a Dele Alli were among nine looping header back across goal of Jordan Henderson as the game coaching staff appeared to delib- corner before England’s luck calf injury, the Bayern Munich players recalled for England after landed on the roof of the net. grew into an increasingly fiesty erately barge Sterling as the Man- deserted them again in all too midfielder not even fit enough for Gareth Southgate rested the Sterling then did well to spin affair. chester City player headed familiar fashion. a place on the bench. majority of his first-choice side past the imposing Davinson Pickford made his first save towards the half-time at the Then, unlike so many times The 26-year-old was the for their final group game against Sanchez although his left-footed from a fizzing long-range effort interval, escaping with just a before, luck finally smiled on Golden Boot winner with six goals Belgium. strike was charged down, while from Juan Fernado Quintero, telling-off. them in the shootout. 18 SPORT WEDNESDAY 4 JULY 2018 We have not been Loew stays as German practising penalties, coach despite debacle says Akinfeev AFP season. That all takes time, but Frankfurt-based newspaper REUTERS it will be done by the time inter- FAZ quoted unnamed Germany BERLIN: Germany coach national matches start in players who said the squad was KHIMKI: Russia goalkeeper Joachim Loew (pictured) will September.” deeply divided between senior Igor Akinfeev, who saved two remain in his job despite the Senior players in the and younger players in Russia. I am very grateful for penalties to carry his team past World Cup holders’ shock elim- Germany team including Sami Timo Werner and Julian the confidence that Spain and into the World Cup ination in the group phase in Khedira, Toni Kroos and Thomas Brandt, both 22, were given less the DFB has again last eight, has not been prac- Russia, thee GeGerman a Football ootba Mueller have given playing time than the players tising spot kicks with his team- Associationn (DFB) said yesterday.yesterday. LoewLoew their who won the World Cup in shown in me and I mates, he said yesterday. The DFBFB said Loew, who has backing,backing, yet 22014.014. feel a lot of support The Muscovite twice denied been in thee job for 12 years,years, had coulcouldd alalll ThereThere waswas alsoalso and encouragement Spain from the spot on Sunday, told Germanman football chiefs he ffaceace the reportedly resentment despite the justified including kicking away Iago wanted too carry on and oversee axeaxe after aboutabout the specialspecial Aspas’s final shot to help his the “rebuilding”ilding” of the national poor statusstatus givengiven to criticism of our team win the shootout 4-3 fol- team. displays.displays. captain and goalgoal-- elimination: Germany lowing a 1-1 draw on Sunday. Loew, who won the World kkeepereeper Manuel coach Joachim Loew “We definitely have not Cup with Germany in Brazil in Neuer.Neuer. trained in it (penalties),” he told 2014, wass told he continued to ThereThere NeuerNeuer plplayedayed all reporters at their base on the enjoy “thee support of the entire are,a re, three group games, foot fracture for eight months.m outskirts of Moscow. leadership”p” despitedespite thethe team’s however,however, aheadahead ofof BarcelonaBarcelona TheThe report saidsaid that was “a Akinfeev said the team had failure to pprogressrogress from the first reportsreports of ‘keeper‘keeper Marc-Andre Ter problemproblem for some players”play as hoped to beat Spain in regular round forr the first time in 80 playplayerer disdis-- Stegen,Stegen, even thoughthough the LoewLoew had said he wouldwould only use time and not have to go to years. gruntlementgruntlement BayernBayern Munich playerplayer thosethose who were playingplaying well. penalties. In onee ofof thethe biggestbiggest shocksshocks in other quarters. hadhad just returnedreturned Other complaints includedinclu the “But the game was long and in World Cup history,history, GermanyGermany afterafter he was choicechoice of Germany’sGermany’s isolatedi all the emotions were gone in finished bottombottom of their groupgroup sidelinedsidelined WWorldorld Cup base in sosouth-westu those 120 minutes,” he said after defeatseats to MexicoMexico and by a MMoscowoscow wwhichhich manmanyy players yesterday. Russia’s goalkeeper Igor South Korearea in Russia.Russia. hated,hated, and the clumsyclumsy handlingh The Russians, whose Akinfeev walks after news Shortlyly before the tour-tour- ofof the scandal involvinginvolving Mesut triumph triggered wild cele- nament, LoewLoew signedsigned a con-con- OzilOzil andand IlkayIlkay Gundogan.Gundoga brations around the country, conference, yesterday. tract extensionension until the TheThe players’ loyaltyloy to next face Croatia in the last 2022 Worldrld Cup.Cup. GermanyGermany was broughtbroug into eight, and Akinfeev said the post-Soviet era that Russia have Loew said:said: “I amam questionquestion on the eveev of the euphoria would now need to reached a World Cup very gratefulteful forfor thethe World Cup after theyth met subside. quarter-final. confidencece that the Turkey presidentpresident Recep “Let’s all put it all aside, “It is no secret that each DFB has againagain shown TTayyipayyip ErdogErdogan,an, whom please, and concentrate on the victory adds to confidence,” in me andd I feelfeel a lotlot GGundoganundogan prepresented next game,” he said. midfielder Yuri Gazinsky told of supportport and with a jersey sisignedg “to “The team created a holiday reporters. encouragementa gement my president”.president” that evening. But it is already “Especially victory over despite thehe justifiedjustified Both playersplaye were history, and we want to write Spain. I think that the country criticism of our booedbooed by GermanG new history now. We will try believed in us and maybe many elimination.on. fansfans duringdurin pre- and fight.” had doubts ahead of the match “I amm stillstill WWorldorld Cup “This tournament shows with Spain.” hugely disap-disap- ffriendlies,riendlies, which that we are sincere in what we “But I hope we have proved pointed, but oovershadowedversha are doing, and that is why it is that they can believe in us and now my team ppreparationsreparati for going so well so far,” added the we do represent the country.