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
Wednesday's Mirror: At last ! #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/aINU5x1sEZ
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'AT LAST! England win on penalties' -- Eric Dier is mobbed by Gareth Southgate's 'roaring' lions.
Wednesday's Mirror sport: Miracle in Moscow #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/0GlBt1tUNL
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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
Wednesday's Sun: Hand of Jord #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/LiynK0tLPS
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'Hand of Jord' -- The Sun focus on Pickford's heroics with a pun likening his contribution to Diego Maradona's against England in 1986.
Wednesdays Sun sport: England win on penalties (yes really) #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/lcYdRxZfvs
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'England win on penalties - yes really' -- Sun Sport call it 'The headline we have waited a lifetime to write.'
THE TIMES
Wednesday's Times sport: Yes it REALLY happened #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/aajLAms6Uj
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'Yes it REALLY happened' -- The Times lead with a picture of Southgate celebrating with Dier after Pickford's 'stunning' save.
DAILY STAR
Wednesday's Daily Star: Spot on! #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/0UUCVQlg94
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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'.
Wednesday's Star sport: Spot-pick hero #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/hUgtYRaF1a
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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
Wednesday's Guardian: NHS rolls out bespoke DNA tests in disease treatment revolution #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/do0AuY5OyW
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
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."
Wednesday's Guardian sport: Yes, we can #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/ojlxH5BYcX
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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
Wednesday's i: Cabinet descends into civil war #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/sQSvbeMvHc
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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.
Wednesday's i sport: A New England #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/yxZttF1nvs
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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
Wednesday's Daily Express: Nurse quizzed over deaths of eight babies #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/u9WMFCVbNN
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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.
Wednesday's Daily Express sport: At last #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/ExOvu7nbWs
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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
Wednesday's Metro: Never in doubt! #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/8Bbo2MDNFr
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
The Metro also go with 'NEVER IN DOUBT' as England's players, led by Kane, celebrate their moment of victory.
Wednesday's Metro sport: Spot luck! #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/G386zrYQ8P
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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
Wednesday's The Daily Telegraph: 'Nick' charged over false VIP sex claims #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/jnNfqpHBuS
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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."
Wednesday's The Daily Telegraph sport: Believe #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/NcDcHikJsI
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) July 3, 2018
'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