By Paul Giblin
SAMARA, July 5 (Xinhua) -- England defender John Stones said on Thursday that England's win against Colombia has given them a massive confidence boost ahead of Saturday's quarterfinal against Sweden in the Samara Arena.
Stones is the only England outfield player to have started every one of his side's games in Russia and gave huge value to their triumph and the way it came about, ending England's 22-year penalty shootout jinx.
"It's had a massive impact, knowing that we did the work for it in training and prepared ourselves for those situation... Once we had won, it kind of sank in.
"We all know how difficult penalty shootouts are, to come through as the winners is so satisfying for us," he said, explaining the success was down to hard work.
Colombia complained about the performance of referee Mark Geiger in the game and some fans have even begun an online petition for the game to be replayed, but Stones had little time for the complaints of the South Americans, saying they were "probably the dirtiest team I have ever come up against."
He reminded those present how the Colombians had reacted when England were awarded a penalty for a foul on Harry Kane by saying "they were surrounding the referee, even pushing the referee. The headbutt (on Jordan Henderson) I'm sure you've all seen. Scuffing the penalty spot. A lot of off the ball stuff that I'm sure you have not heard about. All the sort of things you don't really hear in a football match."
The defender believes England showed "massive character to keep a cool head. We stuck to our plan and kept playing our way of football. It's a great sign for a team to have that sort of quality, to have tunnel vision of what we want out of the game plan."
Finally, Stones discussed England's injury situation, telling the press that "everyone" with the exception of Jamie Vardy (who has a groin strain), was "out training" and adding that Vardy didn't train as a "precautionary thing".
England will hold one final training session in their base camp near St. Petersburg on Friday morning before making the two-and-a-half-hour flight to Samara.
