England will meet Senegal at the 2022 World Cup on Sunday. So, HITC Football looks back to Russia 2018 and Gareth Southgate’s Round of 16 XI against Colombia including Dele Alli.
The Three Lions achieved their joint-best finish at the quadrennial tournament since their only tile four years ago. The 1966 champions matched their fourth-place finish at Italia 90 after losing to Croatia in the semi-final. They had also not made a quarter-final since 2006.
Beating Colombia in the Round of 16 also saw England win a penalty shootout at a World Cup for the first time. They had lost in their three previous shootouts on the FIFA stage in 1990, 1998 and 2006. Yet Jordan Pickford’s heroics set Eric Dier up to win one in Russia.
England beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties in the 2018 World Cup Round of 16
England took the lead during regular time in Moscow when Harry Kane converted from the penalty spot after 57 minutes. But Yerry Mina emerged from a corner with 27 seconds left on the clock to draw Los Cafeteros level after Pickford kept Mateus Uribe’s fierce shot out.
It had been a physical tie at the Otkrytie Bank Arena with Colombia eager to benefit from any missed steps. But neither side could build on their goal and took it to a shootout. First up were Colombia and Radamel Falcao made no mistake in his most telling act of the tie.
Kane and Marcus Rashford responded for England either side of Juan Cuadrado’s attempt. But Jordan Henderson would not follow suit after Luis Muriel beat Pickford. David Ospina anticipated and got down to his left to turn the £20m Liverpool star’s hit around the post.
Yet Uribe would let the midfielder off the hook when he smacked the crossbar and the ball bounced back out. A thunderous shot from Kieran Trippier would then put the pressure on Los Cafeteros. Pressure Carlos Bacca could not endure as Pickford stuck up a strong hand.
The save made Pickford an England hero when Ospina failed to get a strong hand on Dier’s low shot. The Tottenham Hotspur defender-cum-midfielder’s hit fizzed through the former Arsenal goalkeeper’s fingertips. And with it, Dier put England through to the quarter-finals.
Southgate will hope England do not need penalties to beat Senegal in their Round of 16 tie at the 2022 Qatar World Cup this Sunday like they did Colombia in 2018. But before the Al Bayt Stadium tie, HITC Football looks back to their starting XI at the Otkrytie Bank Arena…
Jordan Pickford (GK): Had a heroic performance vs Colombia at the World Cup
Pickford was the only player in England’s 2018 World Cup squad to play all 690 minutes of their campaign. The Everton goalkeeper also registered one clean sheet after shutting out Sweden in the quarter-final. But his Round of 16 heroics were key for the Three Lions’ run.
Kyle Walker (CB): The 2018 World Cup was his breakthrough as a centre-back
The 2018 World Cup in Russia marked the breakthrough of Southgate using Kyle Walker as his right-sided centre-back. He appreciated the pace and physicality the right-back brought to the role. Yet Walker did not always sniff out the danger and got caught out a few times.
Harry Maguire (CB): An authoritative and commanding presence in the backline
Harry Maguire was the only outfield player that Southgate started in all seven of England’s 2018 World Cup XIs. The centre-back’s presence was instrumental to their campaign as his aerial ability stood out. Along with scoring the opener against Sweden, he added authority.
John Stones (CB): The Man City ace was England’s second-best goalscorer in 2018
John Stones was England’s second-best goalscorer at Russia 2018 after scoring twice over seven appearances at the World Cup. The Manchester City ace was also one of just three players to feature in each of their fixtures. He offered two goals in a 6-1 rout of Panama.
Jordan Henderson (CDM): An injury saw England’s second captain start to struggle
Henderson was England’s second captain on the pitch behind Kane at the 2018 World Cup. He anchored their midfield and led by example, as well as words, by winning possession at a stellar rate. But a hamstring injury saw him start to struggle against Sweden and Croatia.
Kieran Trippier (RM): The wing-back’s free-kick let a nation believe in 2018
Trippier’s free-kick in the semi-final with Croatia let a nation believe as the wing-back put England ahead. His deliveries from set-pieces were fundamental to Southgate’s system in Russia. But his defensive inadequacies returned as Croatia rallied to reach the 2018 final.
Dele Alli (CM): England hooked the midfielder against Colombia in 2018
For parts of England’s Round of 16 tie with Colombia in 2018, Dele Alli threatened to be a world-beater. But his impact, as in most games in Russia, faded and Southgate hooked him for Dier after 81 minutes. It was the first substitute the Three Lions coach elected to make.
Jesse Lingard (CM): The creative spark behind England’s early form in Russia
Jesse Lingard was the creative spark behind England’s early form in Russia four years ago. The midfielder surged out of the midfield to support Kane in the attack, picked out the top corner against Panama with a cool finish and also crossed in for Alli’s goal against Sweden.
Ashley Young (LM): The oldest player in England’s 2018 World Cup XI
Ashley Young was not just the oldest player in England’s XI that beat Colombia, he was the oldest in Southgate’s 2018 World Cup squad. The midfielder celebrated his 33rd birthday during the tournament. That experience helped for large spells of the knockout round tie.
Raheem Sterling (ST): Close but not close enough far too often in Russia
Raheem Sterling came close to sparking into life but never quite enough for England at the 2018 World Cup. His pace threatened to cause opposition defenders problems through his six appearances. Yet he flew home with two assists against Panama and having not scored.
Harry Kane (ST): Tottenham star captained England to the World Cup semi-finals
Kane captained England to the World Cup semi-finals at Russia 2018 and bagged a Golden Boot with his early form. The striker scored all six of his efforts in his first three games. His haul also featured three penalties, a tap-in and a deflected shot and none after the last 16.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
