England beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties on Tuesday after Eric Dier scored the decisive spot kick to send them through to a World Cup quarter-final against Sweden.

From Tokyo bars to a Buddhist temple, for millions of Japanese football fans the emotions were the same -- pinch-me optimism to crushing disappointment, all in the space of 25 agonising minutes.

The die is cast and the quarterfinals of the World Cup kick-off Friday with three of the remaining eight teams having never made it to the final of world football's biggest stage.

Brazil superstar Neymar brushed off his critics after firing the five-time World Cup winners to victory over Mexico on Monday and into a quarter-final showdown with Belgium.

Sweden are delighted to make it to the quarter-finals but they are not satisfied yet, coach Janne Andersson told reporters after his side edged Switzerland 1-0 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1994.

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Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani has a painful calf swelling but not a muscle tear, the country's football federation (FCF) said on Monday, increasing his chances of being fit for Friday's World Cup quarterfinal with France.

Keisuke Honda and captain Makoto Hasebe have announced their retirement from international football following Japan's elimination from the World Cup at the hands of Belgium on Monday night.

South Korea hammered the Germans, and Japan very nearly did the same to Belgium, but Asia's representatives are once again heading home before the business end of the World Cup gets going.

Colombia's ambassador to the UK has complained after the Sun published a front page that referenced the country's links to the cocaine trade in the run-up to Tuesday's World Cup clash with England.

Japan were just incredible!

Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who saved two penalties to carry his team past Spain and into the World Cup last eight, has not been practicing spot kicks with his teammates, he said on Tuesday.

Sweden reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 24 years after Emil Forsberg's deflected shot earned a scrappy 1-0 win over Switzerland on Tuesday.

Former Argentine great Diego Maradona has offered to coach his country for free, eight years after his last attempt ended in World Cup failure.

Argentina Coach Jorge Sampaoli is heading for the exit door following his team's World Cup elimination by France, reports said on Monday.

England edged Colombia 4-3 on penalties yesterday to halt a run of five successive shootout defeats at major tournaments and book a quarter-final clash against Sweden at the World Cup.

Poland's coach Adam Nawalka will step down at the end of July after his team crashed out of the group stage of the 2018 World Cup tournament.

Germany coach Joachim Loew will remain in his job despite the World Cup holders' shock elimination in the group phase in Russia, the German Football Association (DFB) said on Tuesday.

Like many other cities in Russia, Samara has a rich history and two of its most historical places have attracted the travelling World Cup fans in droves.

The father of Nigerian World Cup skipper John Mikel Obi who was kidnapped last week has been freed, police said Tuesday.