Football
ESPN 6y

'Miracle in Moscow' - media react to England's first World Cup penalty shootout win

There was joy and relief in the English media on Wednesday morning after England beat Colombia 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout in Moscow to book their place in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Amid a few penalty puns there was universal praise for the contributions of Jordan Pickford and Eric Dier to England's first-ever win on penalties in the World Cup, along with excitement for Saturday's clash with Sweden.

THE MIRROR

'AT LAST! England win on penalties' -- Eric Dier is mobbed by Gareth Southgate's 'roaring' lions.

'Miracle in Moscow' -- England end years of penalty shootout misery to set up a quarterfinal with Sweden, thanks in part to "hero keeper" Jordan Pickford.

THE SUN

'Hand of Jord' -- The Sun focus on Pickford's heroics with a pun likening his contribution to Diego Maradona's against England in 1986.

'England win on penalties - yes really' -- Sun Sport call it 'The headline we have waited a lifetime to write.'

THE TIMES

'Yes it REALLY happened' -- The Times lead with a picture of Southgate celebrating with Dier after Pickford's 'stunning' save.

DAILY STAR

'SPOT ON!' - The Star label Pickford's save 'The Hand of God' and look forward to a quarter-final against Sweden after England 'end penalty curse'.

'SPOT-PICK HERO' -- More penalty puns from the Star on the back page with Pickford's save the focus, after England "finally ended their penalty hoodoo".

THE GUARDIAN

The Guardian go with an image of ecstatic England players piling on Dier alongside the words: "Joy (and relief) as England break curse of the penalty shootout."

'Yes, we can' - The Guardian invoke Barack Obama's famous 2008 election slogan after England 'finally win a World Cup penalty shootout'.

THE I PAPER

'The history boys' -- The I claim England lived up to Southgate's pre-match challenge of his players to "write their own stories" against Colombia.

'A new England' - Pickford's save in the shootout is the headline image of the I's back page, along with the caption: "Pickford's great save and Dier's cool head see Three Lions past Colombia in fret-ever World Cup shootout victory."

DAILY EXPRESS

'NEVER IN DOUBT!... Now we can all breathe again' -- The Express focus on the relief of a nation when Dier's penalty found the back of the net.

'AT LAST' - The Express sport team lead on an image of an elated Harry Kane alongside the caption: "After 22 years of hurt Southgate's Lions finally win a penalty shoot-out to earn Sweden showdown."

THE METRO

The Metro also go with 'NEVER IN DOUBT' as England's players, led by Kane, celebrate their moment of victory.

'SPOT LUCK' -- A flying Pickford is again the defining image of England's shootout win alongside the caption: "Pickford and Dier the heroes as England win on penalties at last."

THE TELEGRAPH

'WORLD CUP SHOCK... ENGLAND WIN ON PENALTIES!' - The Telegraph accompany a picture of England's players celebrating Dier's winning kick wildly with the words: "Southgate's men lift curse of the shoot-out to beat Colombia in typically nail-biting style."

'BELIEVE' -- A simple one-word headline adorns the Telegraph's back page alongside an image of an ecstatic Southgate, accompanied by the words: "Yes, England really did win a penalty shoot-out."

THE DAILY MAIL

'MIRACLE!' - In the seconds after England's penalty shootout win, the Mail claim "the explosion of relief must have been heard in space."

^ Back to Top ^