‘They haven’t won anything yet, but England’s first penalty shootout win at a World Cup left former skipper Gary Lineker in tears.
Lineker scored from the spot when England lost to West Germany in the 1990 semi-final, and was joined in the Match of the Day studio by another former captain Alan Shearer – who also scored when Argentina knocked England out in 1998.
“I don’t mind admitting I had a tear in my eye after that,” said Lineker. “There’s nothing like it.
“I always wondered what it would feel like to win a penalty shootout in a World Cup. It feels very special. We’ve waited so long to see that type of reaction. It’s joyous.”
Shearer paid tribute to England manager and former team-mate Gareth Southgate, whose shootout miss at Euro 96 has framed his career.
“Gareth went through it in Euro 96, I am delighted for him,” Shearer said.
“I know how much he has worked on penalties, the mental side of things, the constant practice to allow players to put it in the net exactly as they’ve practised it.