It was an incredible day of football in Russia, with Sweden and England setting up a quarter-final showdown which featured one of the most pulsating clashes of the FIFA World Cup™.
Sweden grabbed a deserved win with something of a fortunate goal in the second half enough to see them clinch a 1-0 against Switzerland.
The drama came later in the day though, as England won out in a gripping penalty shoot-out over a Colombian side which went oh-so-close.
It means that Sweden and England will meet in a quarter-final showdown at Samara Arena, with kick-off at midnight Sunday (AEST).
In the early game, Sweden and Switzerland traded shots in the first-half with both sides going close but neither able to find a way through.
It took until the 66th minute for Sweden to find a breakthrough, an Emil Forsberg shot from outside the area took a deflection and managed to find its way in.
Switzerland nearly sent the match to extra-time but Haris Seferović’s header couldn’t beat Sweden keeper Robin Olsen.
The Swiss ended the game with ten men after Michael Lang shoved Sweden’s Martin Olsson, who was through on goal.
In the 4am (AEST) kickoff, England looked the goods after Harry Kane sunk his third penalty of the tournament in the 57th minute.
With the clock winding down and England just minutes from a quarter-final berth, Yerry Mina rose high from a corner for Colombia and buried his header to send the game to extra-time.
Both sides went searching for a winner, but neither was able to find it in a match which was as pulsating and as exciting as any we’ve seen at the 2018 edition at the FIFA World Cup™.
Jordan Henderson was the first to miss from the penalty spot, which put the pressure on England who had never succeeded in a penalty shootout on the international stage.
The crossbar and a brilliant Jordan Pickford save denied Colombia twice, and when Eric Dier sunk his penalty it was jubilation for England and devastation for the South Americans.
FIFA World Cup™ Quarter Finals: Saturday matches
Uruguay v France, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, kick off Saturday 12AM (AEST)
Brazil v Belgium, Kazan Arena, kick off Saturday 4AM (AEST)
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