WORLD CUP 2018
ENGLAND gave away a golden chance of reaching the World Cup Final for only the second time in history as Croatia sealed a fine comeback win in extra time.
The Three Lions got off to an ideal start at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow when Dele Alli was fouled by Luka Modric, and the impressive Kieran Trippier swung the free kick into the top corner of the net.
The Three Lions got off to an ideal start at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow when Dele Alli was fouled by Luka Modric, and the impressive Kieran Trippier swung the free kick into the top corner of the net.
Just five minutes had gone - and the early goal seemed to convince this young England team that they had little to fear from their Croatian opponents.
Indeed, for much of the first half, it looked as if England were not going to settle for just a one-goal lead - and a huge chance came and went on the half hour mark as Jesse Lingard found Harry Kane with a delightful through pass.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker had plenty of space in the left channel, and opened his body for a shot towards the bottom right corner.
Frustratingly, though, Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic was equal to his effort and the post came to the Croatians' rescue on the rebound.
Kane had actually been flagged for offside but replays showed he was level and VAR would have surely intervened to put England 2-0 up if the ball had finished in the back of the net.
It did not, of course - and, after the first half petered out without any further serious action, the game began to turn against Gareth Southgate's men.
Almost immediately from the whistle to signal the start of the second half, it became apparent that Croatia had turned it up a notch - and, midway through the half, they got their reward.
Sime Vrsaljko on the right swung over a dangerous cross and Ivan Perisic nipped in ahead of Kyle Walker to execute a neat finish with his left foot.
The goal had been coming but, with just over 20 minutes left, England were still well in the match.
Unfortunately, by this point, Croatia had completely found their groove and England were struggling to turn the tide.
It looked like panic stations at the back at times - and, after John Stones sent a weak clearance straight to Perisic, the Internazionale man gleefully dashed into the box and got his shot past Jordan Pickford.
Thankfully, on that occasion, the inside of the post came to England's rescue while a relieved Pickford gathered Ante Rebic's shot on the rebound.
England, who had started the contest so brightly, were now barely surviving - but survive they did, as the match headed into extra time.
The Three Lions then had the first big chance of the additional 30-minute period as Trippier found Stones from a corner and, with Subasic beaten, Vrsaljko headed clear from off the line.
By now, though, Croatia are well-versed at playing two-hour football matches.
Both their Last 16 tie and quarter final had also gone into extra time and penalties - but, despite that early chance and all those extra minutes in a set of older legs, the momentum of the game barely shifted.
Pickford saved bravely from Mario Mandzukic at the end of the first half - but, shortly after the teams had turned around for the final time, the Croatian pressure eventually told.
Again, England's problems were largely of their own making. Walker failed to clear decisively and Perisic beat Trippier to drop a header invitingly into the space behind the defence.
In a flash, Mandzukic had latched onto the loose ball and, after evading Stones, the Juventus striker finished convincingly past Pickford.
Only just over 10 minutes remained for England to perform an extraordinary rescue act - and, after Trippier limped off holding his groin, Southgate's side were left chasing the game with just 10 men.
Another foul on Alli provided England with a free kick down the left. Substitute Marcus Rashford duly put the ball into the mixer and Dejan Lovren headed it behind.
Unfortunately, the referee thought the ball had come off Harry Maguire and a goal-kick was given. It just was not to be for England.
This was no hard luck story, however - and, undoubtedly, the more accomplished team has reached the Final, to be played on Sunday at the same venue.
There, Croatia will face France who earned a narrow win over neighbours Belgium in the first semi final through a headed goal in the second half from Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti.
It was actually the Belgians who started more brightly - and Eden Hazard almost put the Red Devils in front, only for his curling effort to be headed over by Raphael Varane.
France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris then had to be lively to push away a thumping shot from Toby Alderweireled which was heading for the top corner.
But, at the end of the first half, France came on strongly and Lloris's opposite number Thibaut Courtois was also called into making a top save from Benjamin Pavard.
In the second half, Didier Deschamps's men picked up where they had left off and made the vital breakthrough just six minutes after the restart.
Antoine Griezmann floated in an excellent corner and Umtiti impressively beat Marouane Fellani in the air to make it 1-0.
It could have been two just moments later when some wonderful interplay from Blaise Matuidi and Kylian Mbappe set up Olivier Giroud with only his club team mate Courtois to beat.
Courtois saved well but time was beginning to run out for Roberto Martinez's men.
Eventually, the Belgians pushed for the equaliser as Fellani headed wide and Axel Witsel brought out another good save from Lloris with his strike from range.
It was France, though, who dominated the six minutes of stoppage time and substitute Corentin Tolisso also could have made it 2-0 but for another save from Courtois.
France had never played in a World Cup Final before 1998 but they have now made it to three in the last 20 years. Croatia, meanwhile, will become the 13th different team to play in football's blue ribbon event when they take to the field on Sunday.
Of course, the previous biggest match in Croatian football history came 20 years ago in France, against the French, as they lost a World Cup semi final in Saint-Denis.
Already then the Vatreni have gone one better this time. However, France will undoubtedly start the Final as the odds-on favourites.
England and Belgium, meanwhile, face each other for the second time in the tournament in the third-place playoff on Saturday - and, just like the soporific group game earlier, there will be little riding on the outcome.
Expect some of the squad players to be given another run out although striker Kane may request to be involved so that he can keep his lead in the race for the Golden Boot.
Certainly, though, the 24-year-old will need to be far less isolated than he has been in the games against Sweden and Croatia.
Indeed, since the group phase, and his brave leading of the line against Colombia, this has been a tournament of decreasing returns for the Spurs man.
It is difficult, though, to be too critical of this England side - and, although the draw opened up quite favourably, few would have predicted before the tournament that they would reach the semi finals.
Refreshingly, the Three Lions arrived in Russia with a plan and, for better or worse, actually stuck to it. Along the way, they also played some good football and scored some cracking goals.
True, there was a reliance on set pieces at times - but, in this World Cup in particular, that is hardly something which has been the preserve of England only.
Perhaps the most comforting aspect to take from the last few weeks is the vibrant youthfulness of a squad which was the youngest and least capped of the 32 participants in Russia.
Add in the stonking recent successes of the youth teams in their major tournaments and it looks as if these are going to be exciting times to follow the national team.
It is easy to forget that, just two years ago, England crashed out of Euro 2016 in humiliating fashion against Iceland and then appointed Sam Allardyce as head coach.
Now, a freshened-up squad and a respected coach have reached only the Three Lions' third World Cup semi final in history.
And maybe, just maybe, the match against Croatia is not just the end of the road for England in Russia but also the start of something much bigger.
WORLD CUP SEMI FINALS
TUESDAY 10 JULY - 19:00 - BBCFrance 1 Umtiti 51
Belgium 0
France Lloris - Pavard, Umtiti, Varane, Hernandez - Kante, Pogba, Matuidi (Tolisso 86) - Mbappe, Griezmann, Giroud (N'Zonzi 85) Booked Kante, Mbappe
Belgium Courtois - Chadli (Batshuayi 90+1), Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen - Witsel, Dembele (Mertens 60), De Bruyne, Fellani (Carrasco 80) - E Hazard, Lukaku Booked Alderweireld, Vertonghen, E Hazard
Referee Andres Cunha (Uruguay) Attendance 64,286
WEDNESDAY 11 JULY - 19:00 - ITV
Croatia 2 Perisic 68, Mandzukic 109
England 1 Trippier 5
Croatia Subasic - Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vidi, Strinic (Pivaric 95) - Brozovic, Rebic (Kramaric 101), Modric (Badelj 119), Rakitic, Perisic - Mandzukic (Corluka 115) Booked Rebic, Mandzukic
England Pickford - Trippier, Walker (Vardy 112), Stones, Maguire, Young (Rose 90) - Henderson (Dier 97), Lingard, Alli, Sterling (Rashford 74) - Kane Booked Walker
Referee Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey) Attendance 78,011
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