England are through to the World Cup quarter-finals
But enough about Gareth Southgate’s men. Instead, let’s all take a minute or two to feel sorry for their beaten opponents Colombia.
The South American nation are on their way home. Before departing for Bogota, their manager, whose players were a shining example of fair play and sportsmanship throughout the game, took time to express his anger at the manner of their defeat. Accusing England players of diving, he insisted that officials will be on the look out for their perceived antics in their next game against Sweden.
“Players fall in the box, they collide and fall,”Jose Pekerman said after the game.
“You have to try and stand in the shoes of the players. They are subject to situations which shouldn’t really be present in football.
“These interruptions are bad. When there are so, so many fouls and interruptions I think that’s not good.
“We have to try and find the right balance so that football can happen and the two sides can play the match with good intentions.
“We shouldn’t only look at Colombian players, people should look at England players. I wish I was wrong, but I think from the next match England will be much more careful.
“Today we were on the receiving end of this but I hope it won’t happen again. It’s been absolutely obvious, too obvious.
“I think we have to try and defend football and we should do a little more to try to prevent certain situations knowing that they may arise.
“It has been very uncomfortable to play this match knowing that feeling was in the air about refereeing decisions.
“Something is happening in football. There is a lot of confusion. What if the player falls because he fakes a fall or is being pushed by an opponent or they are trying to get the referee to book another player?”
Pekerman was seemingly referring to the incident which saw England awarded the penalty which Harry Kane converted to give them the lead.
Colombian players also appear to be upset at the way Jordan Henderson went down after contact with Wilmar Barrios’ head. Barrios wasn’t sent off for the incident, the referee opting to give him a yellow card despite not seeing what happened and not consulting VAR.
