England end long wait for knockout win

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.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at some the dismal failures the team had endured before the penalty shootout drama in Moscow.

2006 – England pay the penalty against Portugal

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

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

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

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

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.