Everyone loved what Gareth Southgate did after England won penalty shoot-out against Colombia
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If there was one man ready to console an England player who missed a crucial spot-kick in the Three Lions' penalty shoot-out with Colombia on Tuesday night it was Gareth Southgate.
The England boss suffered this heartbreaking fate himself, when he missed a penalty against Germany in Euro 96.
But just because it wasn't an England player who experienced all the emotions he felt upon Eric Dier hitting the back of the net to send the Three Lions through and Colombia out, doesn't mean to say Southgate didn't feel sympathy for the opposition.
Brilliant pictures have emerged showing the England boss both celebrating his side's victory, but also consoling the devastated Colombia stars too.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
The images say a lot about Southgate's character, and went down extremely well with England fans who pointed out his gesture on social media.
Southgate discussed his infamous penalty miss in the build-up to the Colombia game, saying: "I've learned a million things from that day and the years that followed it.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
"When something goes wrong in your life it doesn't finish you and you should become braver, knowing that you've got to go for things in life and don't regret because you didn't try to be as good as you might be.
"You must not be inhibited and if there's one thing I can instil in my players it's that I want them in this game to really attack the game, show people how good they might be and not walk off the field thinking 'I wish I'd just tried things that I've been trying up to this point', because up to this point it's stood us in good stead.
(Image: PA)
"I'm constantly talking to them about going for it in life and they've been able to change perceptions of how an England team might play and we mustn't lose sight of that."
Southgate started England's semi-final clash with Germany in Euro 96, in which Alan Shearer opened the scoring in just the third minute.
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The Three Lions were hit back 13 minutes later however through Stefan Kuntz, and what followed after a frenetic start was a cagey affair between two well-matched sides.
After full time and extra time, in which the two teams couldn't be separated, the match went to a dreaded penalty shoot-out.
England have a history of failing in this discipline, but were buoyed by the fact they had just beaten Spain in a quarter-final shoot-out.
And it showed. The Three Lions netted all five of their first five spot-kicks - as did the Germans - and Sudden Death ensued.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
Southgate was required to take this particularly nerve-racking penalty, which was saved by Andreas Kopke.
Andreas Moller then stepped up for Germany and buried his shot past David Seaman to send England out of the tournament and his nation into the final, which they would go on to win against Czech Republic.