The Everton player was criticised after conceding Adnan Januzaj’s winner in a group-stage 1-0 loss to Belgium, including by his Belgian counterpart Thibaut Courtois, who said he was too small.

But Pickford hit back after his save allowed Eric Dier to slot in the winning spot-kick and give England their first-ever shootout win at a World Cup finals after failures in 1990, 1998 and 2006.

“I did a lot of research on them, I’ve got power and agility,” Pickford told ITV.

“I don’t care if I’m not the biggest ‘keeper because it’s about being there in the moment and making the save and I was.”

Substitute Dier was relieved to see his penalty squirm past David Ospina, after missing a great chance to seal a last-eight spot in extra time.

“It was a nervous one, I’ve never really been in a situation like that, but I felt like I had to score after the header I missed at the end there, so I’m just thankful I scored,” said the Tottenham midfielder.

Sharapova, the 2004 champion, was joined at the exit by 2011 and 2014 winner Petra Kvitova who was stunned by Belarusian world number 50 Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

However, two-time men’s champion Rafael Nadal and three-time winner Novak Djokovic eased into the second round.

Sharapova was cruising to victory at one stage on Court Two with a set and 5-2 lead before qualifier Diatchenko shrugged off a back injury to win 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 after more than three hours of tense action.

Sharapova, playing Wimbledon for the first time in three years after missing 2016 through a drugs ban and 2017 due to injury, gave up the match on her 11th double fault.

It was her earliest exit at a Slam since a first round defeat at the 2010 Australian Open.

“It’s always tough to assess your motivation levels after a first round loss but I won’t shy away from learning from my errors,” said 31-year-old Sharapova.

Eighth seed Kvitova was the bookmakers’ favourite for a third Wimbledon crown after winning five titles in 2018, including the grass-court tournament at Birmingham last weekend, while amassing an WTA Tour-leading 38 match victories.

But she slumped to a disappointing 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 loss to Sasnovich.

“When I was younger, I played better on the Grand Slams than the other tournaments. Now is the time when I’m playing better on the other tournaments than the Grand Slams,” said the 28-year-old Czech.

Kvitova is the fourth top 10 women’s seed to lose in the first round.

Number four Sloane Stephens and fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina were eliminated on Monday.

France’s Caroline Garcia, seeded six, was also beaten Tuesday, going down 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic.

World number one Nadal breezed into the second round with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 win over Israel’s Dudi Sela as the Spaniard returned to action for the first time since claiming his 11th French Open title.

Nadal, the Wimbledon champion in 2008 and 2010, also managed to avoid falling victim to a player ranked outside the world top 100 for what would have been the fifth time in his last six visits to the All England Club.

“I’m just happy to be through of course and yes, this match gives me positive feelings,” said Nadal after seeing off world number 127 Sela.

Nadal, the 17-time major winner, has not got past the fourth round since finishing runner-up to Novak Djokovic in 2011.

Djokovic reached the second round with a 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 win over Tennys Sandgren of the United States.

Djokovic, seeded 12, was back at the tournament where last year he was forced to retire from his quarter-final against Tomas Berdych with an elbow injury.

“I thought it was overall quite a solid match. I think he made a lot of errors,” said Djokovic.

After sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov was sent packing on Monday, it was the turn of French Open runner-up Dominic Thiem and Belgium’s David Goffin to pack their bags.

Austrian seventh seed Thiem retired with a back injury against Cypriot veteran Marcos Baghdatis, trailing 6-4, 7-5, 2-0.

Goffin, the 10th seed, slumped to a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 loss to Australia’s Matthew Ebden.

Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro made it nine first round wins in nine appearances at the tournament, easing past Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Del Potro, who made the semi-finals in 2013, next faces Feliciano Lopez of Spain who on Tuesday set a record of playing 66 consecutive Grand Slams when he eased past Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

The 36-year-old broke the record for straight Slams which was previously held by Roger Federer.

“When I was about to break the record, I thought, wow, I’m going to beat Federer at something!” joked the 70th-ranked Lopez who has lost all 13 matches he has played against Federer in his career.

German fourth seed Alexander Zverev beat world number 748 James Duckworth of Australia 7-5, 6-2, 6-0.

World number one Simona Halep started her challenge for a first Wimbledon title with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Japan’s Kurumi Nara.

Halep has arrived at the All England Club on a high after finally winning her maiden Grand Slam crown at the French Open last month.

Spain’s Garbine Muguruza opened her title defence with a 6-2, 7-5 win over British wild card Naomi Broady.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, who famously stunned Nadal at the tournament in 2014, marked his 50th match at the majors with a 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.

Kyrgios, seeded 15, hammered down 42 aces and unleashed 78 winners.

This was far from a classic at the Saint Petersburg Stadium and if Colombia or England’s players were watching from Moscow, they could be forgiven for feeling bullish about their prospects in the last eight.

Forsberg’s second-half strike, which deflected off the unfortunate Manuel Akanji, means Sweden are through to the World Cup last eight for the first time since 1994 in the United States.

Switzerland’s Michael Lang was sent off in injury-time for a last-ditch push on Martin Olsson and referee Damir Skomina downgraded his penalty to a free-kick on the edge of the area. But the game was already up.

“I’m so proud to see what we’re achieving together,” Forsberg said. “It brings tears to my eyes.”

Sweden’s route to the quarters has not been easy. They saw off both the Netherlands and Italy in qualifying, before finishing above Germany and Mexico in Group F.

What they have lost in the individual brilliance of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they appear to have gained in grit, determination and collective spirit. Their next opponents would be foolish to take them lightly.

“The team fighting for the team is what prevails out on the pitch,” Sweden’s coach Janne Andersson said.

The one blemish on the victory was a yellow card for defender Mikael Lustig, who will now be suspended for the quarter-final in Samara on Saturday.

Both sides had been hampered by suspensions here too, with Switzerland more badly affected. They were without both Fabian Schaer and captain Stephan Lichtsteiner at the back, prompting Johan Djourou and Lang to come in.

For Sweden, Gustav Svensson replaced Sebastian Larsson in midfield.

After back-to-back penalty shoot-outs, Brazil versus Mexico and Belgium’s pulsating comeback against Japan, there was always a danger this last-16 tie would struggle to deliver, even on low expectations.

It was a contest that lacked quality, particularly in the final third, where both teams were often painfully imprecise.

Victor Lindelof slipped on the ball in the first 10 seconds and that set the tone for the first half, which was largely a collection of mishit passes, heavy touches and skewed shots.

There were chances and Sweden had most of them. Marcus Berg blasted over when set free early on and then saw his finish blocked following a poor clearance by Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

After a slow start, and Lustig’s foul on Josip Drmic, Switzerland grew in confidence and should have scored when Blerim Dzemaili snatched at Steven Zuber’s pull-back.

At the other end, Albin Ekdal was even closer, and completely free, when he sidefooted Lustig’s cross over.

Rather than let loose, both teams tightened after the interval, and Forsberg’s goal came out of the blue. With space on the edge of the box, his dummy did for Granit Xhaka before the shot was helped in by the outstretched foot of Akanji.

Switzerland twice went close to grabbing an equaliser, as Djourou’s header dribbled agonisingly across the goal-line and substitute Haris Seferovic drew a late save from close range.

Olsson was pushed in the back by Lang with only Sommer to beat in injury-time, with Skomina initially awarding a penalty but changing to a free-kick after he consulted the replay. Lang’s red card stood and Sweden held on.

Eric Dier scored the decisive spot-kick to win the shootout 4-3 and send Gareth Southgate’s young team through to a meeting with Sweden, who earlier beat Switzerland.

A bad-tempered match at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium that featured eight yellow cards — six for Colombian players — ended 1-1 after 30 tense minutes of extra-time, meaning the game had to be decided by penalties.

The South American side, without injured forward James Rodriguez, appeared on the edge of reaching their second consecutive World Cup quarter-final when Jordan Henderson’s effort was saved by Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, keeping the score at 3-2.

But Mateus Uribe then rattled the crossbar and after Kieran Trippier levelled at 3-3, England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved from Carlos Bacca, extending his left arm to stop the ball as he dived to his right.

That gave England match point and Eric Dier made no mistake, beating the despairing dive of Ospina before he was mobbed by his teammates.

It is the first time England have won a shootout at a World Cup — and comes after six failures in seven attempts at major tournaments before Russia.

Southgate’s team were minutes away from victory during normal time but Yerry Mina rose to head home an equaliser from a corner and cancel out captain Harry Kane’s 57th-minute penalty.

The late, late goal deflated England and the momentum shifted visibly towards the South Americans, who started extra-time with a spring in their step.

“To get knocked down at the end like we did with that goal in added time, you know, it’s difficult to come back from that,” said Dier.

“But we did. We were ready for that. We knew what we had to do, we stayed calm, we stuck to our plan, we never panicked all the way through extra time. We knew that if it has to go to penalties, it has to go to penalties. We were ready for that.”

– ‘Gives us belief’ –

England, for so long under-achievers on the international stage, are the only former winners left in the bottom half of the draw and, with Sweden up next, will fancy their chances of reaching the semi-finals for just the third time in their history.

Pickford is the first England goalkeeper to save a penalty in a shootout at a major tournament since David Seaman at the 1998 World Cup against Argentina.

“It’s a great night to win a penalty shootout,” he said. “Ideally we don’t want to be going to a penalty shootout but we are delighted for the fans and the whole country.

“It gives us belief to go into the Sweden game.”

Kane’s penalty in the first half made him the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, two clear of Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku.

With Spain already ejected, England face Sweden in Samara on Saturday, with Russia and Croatia potential semi-final opponents.

Brazil and France lurk in the top half of the draw but Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are out.

Even Prince William got caught up in the emotion, tweeting: “I couldn’t be prouder of @England – a victory in a penalty shootout! You have well and truly earned your place in the final eight of the #worldcup.”

– Forsberg strikes for Sweden –

Emil Forsberg

In the early game on Tuesday, RB Leipzig striker Emil Forsberg’s deflected 66th-minute shot took Sweden through to their first World Cup quarter-final since 1994, with the Swiss unable to respond in Saint Petersburg.

Suspensions deprived Switzerland of key defender Fabian Schaer and captain Stephan Lichtsteiner, but they will be disappointed by their limp exit.

Sweden coach Janne Andersson said his side were not finished yet.

“We’re not satisfied with this,” he said. “We want to win the next match as well. If you start to lower the bar or your ambition that’s not going to be satisfying.

“Hopefully in the future I will look back on this with pride but for now, I focus on the next match on Saturday.”

Away from the drama in Russia, the German Football Association (DFB) confirmed that coach Joachim Loew will remain in his job despite the World Cup holders’ shock elimination in the group phase.

“I am very grateful for the confidence that the DFB has again shown in me and I feel a lot of support and encouragement despite the justified criticism of our elimination,” said Loew, who has been in charge for 12 years.

The 24-year-old Thai reached round two at the All England Club for the first time after she came from behind to oust American Bernarda Pera 4-6 6-2 6-2 in the first round on Monday.

World No 91 Luksika briefly lost her concentration and with it the opening set to her 71st ranked opponent before she raised the level of her play to win the match in one hour and 46 minutes.

“I was figuring out ways to beat her after I lost the first set. It was a bit lucky that she started missing in the second and third sets,” said Luksika, who hails from Chanthaburi province.

Luksika won her first match at the grass Major after losing the first round in 2016. But her best Grand Slam run is to the third round in the Australian Open in January.

But an uphill task awaits her in round two as she is to face Keys, who thrashed Ajla Tomljannovic of Australia 6-4 6-2. However she has beaten the American twice, in the WTA events in Auckland 2013 and Osaka in 2014, both on hard courts.

“I hope to keep the winning streak against her. She hits and serves big which suits grass. I need to be patient and play solid in crucial points,” said Luksika, who will rise above No 87, her highest ever ranking, reached back in October 2014, after Wimbledon.

The IOC president’s message, sent to IOC member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, said: “Please accept my warm congratulations on this fantastic news and your strong will not to give up. Let me send all my good wishes to the parents and authorities. And of course congratulations to the athletes and coaches and all my best wishes for a speedy recovery to body and soul after your long ordeal. This is wonderful news.”

Twelve young football players and their assistant coach had disappeared into the cave on June 23 before being discovered on Monday evening.

The world No 91 Luksika briefly lost her concentration that cost her the opening set to 71^st ranked opponent before she raised the level of her play to win the match in one hour and 46 minutes.

Luksika won her first match at the grass Major after losing the first round in 2016. But her best Grand Slam run is the third round in the Australian Open in January.

But an uphill task awaits her in round two as she is to face American Madison Keys, the world No 11 who thrashed Ajla Tomljannovic of Australia 6-4 6-2.

Substitute Nacer Chadli slotted home in the fourth minute of injury time to complete a memorable comeback and seal a 3-2 win in the last-16 match in Rostov-on-Don.

Belgium were stunned after Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui gave Japan a two-goal advantage early in the second half.

But Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini pulled them level and Chadli’s winner means they will play Brazil in the last eight.

“That was a test for the team and its character,” said Martinez after Belgium become the first team in 48 years to overturn a 2-0 deficit in a World Cup knockout match.

“We survived it, we have gone through and that is the most important thing.”

“No negatives today, it was about getting through,” Martinez added. “It is a day to be very proud of these players. Keep believing in Belgium.

“In the World Cup you want to be perfect but it’s about getting through, it’s about winning.

“I couldn’t be prouder of them and everyone in Belgium needs to be proud of these players.”

Martinez, the former Everton manager, also said Japan deserved credit for presenting his team with such a tough test.

“Let’s congratulate Japan, they played the perfect game. They were clinical on the counter and so solid,” said the Belgium boss.

“It was a test of character and you see the reaction of our subs coming on to win the game. It tells you everything about this group of players.

“Physically, we finished the game really strong, the third goal was almost a powerful counter attack which saw us cover the pitch in six seconds.”

The Spaniard denied under-estimating Japan after his side went 2-0 down early in the second-half.

“We didn’t underestimate them, we gave the players a lot of details about what Japan could do,” said Martinez.

“Their first goal was a fantastic counter attack and the second one was a wonder strike from them down to brilliance.

“Mentally we had to be very strong, I felt the players always had the belief, but we never underestimated Japan.”

Martinez singled out Romelu Lukaku for praise in the build-up to the winning goal after the Manchester United striker let the ball roll to the unmarked Chaldi to score, rather than claim the glory for himself as he was marked.

“Lukaku was aware and showed great selflessness to allow Nacer to score,” beamed Martinez.

The two dozens of youngsters made the final cut at the Dhupatemiya Stadium in Bangkok on Sunday. A total 99 children made it to Sunday’s selection after seven provincial selections between April and June which attracted over 6,000 children nationwide.

Chosen by former national striker Piyapong Pue-on and his well-trained coaching team, the 24 players will have training sessions at the Ekkono Method Soccer Service, the Football Association of Thailand’s Academy.

“The quality of the chosen children is better this year. They have shown good football basics which should make it easier for them to develop further skills with us,” said Piyapong who is in charge of the Toyota Junior football project.

The squad will then have an intensive training with Piyapong ahead of representing Thailand at the Toyota International Junior Cup in Japan later this year.

“There are just a few aspects we have to work with them in the training before the trip to Japan. Our goal is always the same which is to defend the title,” Piyapong added.

Thai youngsters have won the Toyota International Junior Cup , normally staged in the Japanese city of Toyota for the last three years.

Neymar was criticised for his early performances in Russia as he eased his way back to fitness after a broken foot bone, but he carved open a tough Mexican defence without quite reaching his dazzling best.

After a goalless first half on a hot afternoon in Samara, the world’s most expensive player tapped in from the impressive Willian’s cross for his second goal of the tournament on 51 minutes.

As Brazil pressed their advantage, Neymar set up Firmino for another close-range finish that sealed the victory.

In between, he writhed in agony on the turf after a Mexican opponent appeared to stand on his ankle, but the referee ruled there had been no foul and Neymar was soon on his feet.

Mexico threatened at times but their World Cup challenge was ended at the first knockout stage for the seventh consecutive tournament.

Neymar said Mexico had made Brazil work hard: “We have to learn to suffer and we did suffer, it was a tough match. We knew they were a high-quality opponent.”

– Russian party –

Brazil will face the winners of the match later Monday between highly fancied Belgium and a Japan side dreaming of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in their history after scraping through their group thanks to their fair-play record.

Belgium are bristling with talent in the shape of Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, but this World Cup has already shown that nothing can be taken for granted after a series of big names crashed out.

Russian fans celebrated long into the night after they stunned 2010 winers Spain on penalties in an electric atmosphere at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.

Veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was the hero for the hosts, saving two spot-kicks.

The win sparked an outpouring of joy on the streets of the capital, with disbelieving locals cheering, waving flags, blowing horns and yelling “Russ-i-a!”

Russia, ranked a lowly 70th in the world, will play Croatia in the last eight after similar drama in Nizhny Novgorod, where Luka Modric saw his spot-kick saved late in extra time before they held their nerve to defeat Denmark in the penalty shootout.

Spain had been considered among the favourites but their preparations were wrecked when coach Julen Lopetegui was sensationally sacked on the eve of the tournament.

“The KO in the last 16 is another dark chapter in our history,” said Spanish sports daily Marca, adding that it was “incredible naivety” to think Lopetegui’s abrupt sacking would not affect the team.

Spain join 2014 winners Germany, Argentina and European champions Portugal in exiting the competition, leaving just four former World Cup winners in the tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have dominated the game for the past decade, have gone home, their hopes of ever winning the World Cup probably over.

– Dangerous Belgium –

Roberto Martinez’s dangerous Belgian side have lived up to their billing so far, winning all three group games. A host of key players including Hazard, Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne will be fresh after being rested in the 1-0 victory against England.

However, Adnan Januzaj, who scored the winner in that match, suffered a knock to his knee in training.

This is probably the best chance for Belgium’s so-called golden generation to win a major trophy after they were eliminated in the last eight at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016.

“This is our time to shine, definitely. We have top players and we play as a group, especially after the win over England,” Chelsea star Hazard said.

“It’s in our hands. We need to give everything and see what happens.”

Japan reached this stage in controversial manner, by virtue of collecting fewer yellow cards in the group phase than Senegal. They have never won a knockout-round game at the competition.

“Maybe Belgium feel the tournament is starting after their three wins, but I’d like to feel we are on a par with them. We have played to our best, but the players have something more to offer,” said Japan coach Akira Nishino.