Kieran Trippier described his part in Englandās penalty shootout win over Colombia as āthe best feeling of my careerā.
The Tottenham wing-back was among the best players on the pitch as Gareth Southgateās side were held 1-1 over 120 fractious minutes in Moscow.
He then played his part at a crucial moment of the shootout, converting Englandās fourth in between two Colombian misses.
The 27-year-old has been a consistently classy performer en route to the World Cup quarter-finals and his emotional reaction to the finale at Spartak Stadium has been well earned.
āI couldnāt be happier for the team and for the whole country, the fans, everyone involved,ā he said. āItās just an unbelievable feeling, the best feeling of my career.
āTo be part of this team is an unbelievable feeling. The spirit in this team is incredible. I love this team. We all feel the same, weāre passionate about this team.ā
England might have preferred to reach the last eight in less nerve-shredding fashion ā and would have done so had Yerry Mina not conjured an injury-time equaliser following Harry Kaneās penalty.
But victory from the spot, confirmed when Eric Dier squeezed home the winning kick, is a major psychological boost for a nation who had only won one of their previous seven penalty deciders.
āI felt confident and comfortable as I walked up to take the penalty,ā said Trippier.
āPeople go on about if England get to a penalty shootout we wonāt win but we really do block all that out. We just focus on ourselves.
āWe know how much ability we have and we believe in ourselves. We stepped up today and weāre delighted we got it over the line.ā
Dele Alli appeared to be playing through the pain barrier for much of the game and watched the late drama unfold from the sidelines after making way late in the second half.
He has already missed two games in Russia with a thigh injury but described his condition as āall goodā.
Speaking afterwards, he shone a light on Jordan Pickfordās fantastic penalty save from Carlos Bacca.
Pickford has yet to keep a clean sheet at the tournament and was under the microscope following defeat to Belgium last week, but he took his shot at a starring role.
āIt was a great save and heās a phenomenal keeper,ā said Alli.
āHe showed heās a top-class keeper. Every man had to show his worth and Jordan Pickford definitely did that.ā