Eric Dier scores the winning penalty for England against Colombia

England in last-eight: Three Lions' long-wait for knockout victory

12:11 · WED July 04, 2018

England defeated Colombia in the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday night, which was a first victory in a knockout match at a major finals since beating Ecuador in 2006.

Jordan Pickford helped the Three Lions end their penalty shootout hoodoo and reach the World Cup quarter-finals at the expense of the South American outfit in Moscow.

After decades stewing on his Euro 96 semi-final miss against Germany, Gareth Southgate has spent recent months trying to improve their chances in Russia if it went all the way.

Things looked set to go pear-shaped when Jordan Henderson's penalty was saved, only for Mateus Uribe's spot-kick to rattle the bar and goalkeeper Pickford to deny Carlos Bacca.

Here is a look at some the dismal failures the team had endured before the penalty shootout drama in Moscow.

2006 - England pay the penalty against Portugal

Steven Gerrard walks away after having his penalty saved by Ricardo

The win over Ecuador set up a World Cup quarter-final clash with Portugal, who had knocked England out of the European Championship on penalties two years previously.

History repeated itself in Gelsenkirchen in a match best remembered for Wayne Rooney's red card and Cristiano Ronaldo winking to the Portuguese bench after he had alerted the referee to his Manchester United team-mate's stamp on Ricardo Carvalho.

A goalless 120 minutes meant another shoot-out for Sven-Goran Eriksson's team, and missed spot-kicks from Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher allowed Ronaldo to apply the killer blow to England's so-called 'Golden Generation'.

2010 - Battered and bruised in Bloemfontein

Manuel Neuer watches the ball bounce over the line from Frank Lampard's shot

England failed to even qualify for Euro 2008 under Steve McClaren but returned to the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa under Fabio Capello. In a group famously described as 'EASY' - England, Algeria, Slovenia, 'Yanks' (United States) - by one tabloid newspaper, they could only finish second which meant a last-16 encounter with Germany.

They were denied an equaliser just before half-time when Lampard's effort clearly crossed the line - prompting FIFA to finally see the light on goal-line technology - but in truth Germany tore England apart and were worthy 4-1 winners.

2012 - More penalty pain

Andrea Pirlo chips the ball in the penalty shootout past Joe Hart

England's build-up to Euro 2012 was hugely disturbed by Capello's shock resignation over the Football Association's decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy. Under Roy Hodgson, the team got out of their group but came up short in a quarter-final against Italy in Kiev.

Supporters were fearing the worst when the match went to penalties, and sure enough England's abysmal record in shoot-outs continued as Ashley Young struck the bar and Ashley Cole's kick was saved by Gianluigi Buffon.

2016 - England freeze against Iceland

Iceland players celebrate after victory over England

Hodgson's team failed to reach the knockout phase of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but did qualify for the last 16 of the Euros, where they faced tournament debutants Iceland in Nice.

The night got off to a perfect start when Raheem Sterling was brought down in the box and Rooney put England ahead with a fourth-minute penalty. But it all fell apart two minutes later as Aron Gunnarsson's long throw caused chaos in the England defence and Ragnar Sigurdsson took advantage.

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson put Iceland ahead in the 18th minute after England's defenders stood off him, with Joe Hart also culpable for failing to make a routine save. There was still plenty of time for England to respond, but the players looked devoid of ideas and paralysed by fear. Hodgson resigned immediately afterwards.

2018 - Southgate's young lions come full circle

Gareth Southgate celebrates with his coaching staff

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford helped England end their shootout hoodoo and reach the quarter-finals at the expense of Colombia in Moscow.

Jordan Henderson's penalty was saved by Arsenal keeper David Ospina but Mateus Uribe rattled the bar and Pickford denied Carlos Bacca before Eric Dier kept his composure to send the Three Lions to a quarter-final against Sweden.

England, though, did it the hard way having been moments from a 1-0 victory through a penalty by captain Harry Kane just before the hour - only for Colombia to snatch a dramatic equaliser when defender Yerry Mina headed in during stoppage-time.