The 'Three Lions' were given a huge boost pre-match as Colombia talisman James Rodriguez was ruled unfit even for a place on the bench.
In truth, the game was very much one for the purists, with regular stoppages as both sides looked to turn it into a physical and mental battle.
Gilt-edged chances were at a premium in the first half, with a Harry Kane header from club team-mate Kieran Trippier's cross from the right the closest either side came.
There was drama on the stroke of half-time as Wilmar Barrios somehow avoided a red card, despite clearly headbutting England midfielder Jordan Henderson.
That incident served only to light the blue touch paper as the game turned more and more niggly with each passing minute.
England dominated possession for long spells but didn't really look like doing much with it, until Colombia handed them the chance to take the lead on a golden platter.
Carlos Sanchez was all over Harry Kane as a corner came in from the right, just about mounting the England striker and man in the middle Mark Geiger made the correct decision this time as he pointed to the spot.
Kane dusted himself down to dink a wonderful spot-kick down the middle to score his sixth of the tournament and put England ahead, but little did they know that it would be the first of many penalties on the night.
Dele Alli had a chance to double the lead when he headed another inviting cross from Trippier over when he really should have hit the target.
However, as the game wore on, Colombia took more risks and with them threatened to come rewards.
Juan Cuadrado ought to have done better than drive an effort over the bar after Kyle Walker was robbed on halfway, before Mateus Uribe saw a speculative 35-yard volley wonderfully clawed away by Jordan Pickford.
There was to be another twist in the tale though as deep into added time Yerry Mina, a colossus all night, rose to head a corner from the right down and into the back of the net off the underside of the bar to break English hearts.
That strike took the game into extra time, though it remained a very cagey affair, with England substitutes Danny Rose and Eric Dier coming closest when the former dragged a low shot across the face of goal and the latter headed a corner from the right over from six yards when completely unmarked.
Thus the game moved to a shootout and England fans could have been forgiven for thinking the worst when Jordan Henderson saw his effort wonderfully saved by David Ospina away to his left. However, Uribe could only smash his next effort off the bar, before Pickford denied Bacca to allow Dier to make amends by firing home low with his spot-kick to arrange England a quarter-final date on Saturday against Sweden.
July 3, 2018