England 1-2 Croatia - Croatia Crush England's World Cup Dreams In Extra Time
Both England and Croatia, two evenly matched teams in terms of playing ability and players would have come into the game already having potentially over-achieved. However, one of these nations was to find themselves in the World Cup final. A feat England have only managed once and that was 52 years ago. And we all know what happened then! Also England's first semi-final in 28 years and only their third ever. On the other hand, Croatia have only been their own independent country since 1991, breaking away from a collapsing Yugoslavia. Third being the furthest they have been in the World Cup, in France 1998. The draw to the final has been rather fortunate and generous for both countries. Croatia having to face Denmark, Russia and now England. While England have had to face Colombia, Sweden and now Croatia. While all of these nations are still good teams and provide their own threats, the other side of the draw was much harsher and less forgiving, with teams of a much higher calibre than those of the other side of the draw, in the likes of France, Brazil, Belgium, Argentina and Uruguay.
England got off to the perfect start, with Kieran Trippier bending in a perfectly curled free kick within the first 5 minutes after Dele Alli was fouled just outside the area. However, would this prove to be a case of scoring too early? England continued to dominate the first half and created the majority of the chances, good ones too. Reaching the half hour mark, World Cup top scorer Harry Kane found himself through on goal with just Croatian keeper Danijel Subašić after being neatly played in by Jesse Lingard. However, Subašić pulled of a good stop but the ball again fell to Kane right next to the post, Kane sorted his feet out and released a shot that on initial viewing looked to have hit the post, however, after closer inspection, Subašić made potentially the save of the tournament. Recovering quickly from his earlier save to get a toe to the goal-bound shot. The first half drew to a close and England had looked the much better side and had they taken their chances, could have and should have been 3-0 up. However, they weren't and only found themselves 1-0 up, giving Croatia the belief they needed that they could still turn the game on its head.
Croatia looked much better than their first half showing and began to threaten England's defence. But the Three Lions defence showed their resolve and kept the Croatia attack at bay. However, as the half drew on, England's chances of furthering their advantage were getting slimmer and slimmer and Croatia continued to push for an equaliser. Despite the resilient England defending, Croatia found their desperately desired equaliser in the 68th minute. An unmarked, unpressured Šime Vrsaljko had time and space to deliver a perfectly weighted and curled cross into the box that was met by boot of Ivan Perišić, which just beat the head of England defender Kyle Walker to the ball. England lacked composure when they needed it most, particularly in midfield. They failed to slow the game down and regain control of the game as Croatia had their tails up and the wind in their sails. England were well and truly shaken and on-the-ropes as just minutes after the equaliser, Perišić found himself through on goal again. A couple of fancy step-overs beat Walker for the second time and his shot went across the face of goal and cannoned back off the post. England were lucky not to find themselves 2-1 down. After such a strong first half showing, failing to take their chances when on top proved to be costly.
England hang on until extra time and began to look much more like their first half performance in the first half of extra time. They pushed for a winner while still defending well. They continued to create good chances and were the better team for the first half of extra time. England came desperately close to regaining the lead 100 minutes in as John Stones' header from a corner beat Subašić but was cleared off the line by Vrsaljko. Croatia did however have a brilliant chance of their own in the dying moments of the half. Perišić whipped in a cross that went inbetween the retreating England defenders and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford that was met by Mario Mandžukić, but Jordan Pickford pulled off a wonder save, throwing himself at Mandžukić, making himself big and blocking the point-blank effort.
While it may hurt now, that our best chance of winning a world cup may have slipped through our hands, the future looks wonderfully bright. As well as this current squad only being the third youngest at the tournament, meaning the team is still in development and have potentially another two tournaments together, at least. Our youth teams are winning World Cups and European Championships at their respective age brackets and we continue to bring through and develop promising young talent and we have a manager in Southgate that has managed England youth levels before and isn't afraid to implement players into his system and his plans for his England team. This World Cup can and hopefully will be used as an invaluable learning experience for this young team. While there may be disappointment, there is an overruling feeling of pride. This team has taken us to only our third semi-final in our history, ended our disastrous World Cup penalty shoot-out record by winning our first World Cup penalty shoot-out, getting further than anybody could have ever expected and most importantly, reuniting the nation in a time of such division and uncertainty. Well done Gareth and the boys! They'll all come home as heroes.
England got off to the perfect start, with Kieran Trippier bending in a perfectly curled free kick within the first 5 minutes after Dele Alli was fouled just outside the area. However, would this prove to be a case of scoring too early? England continued to dominate the first half and created the majority of the chances, good ones too. Reaching the half hour mark, World Cup top scorer Harry Kane found himself through on goal with just Croatian keeper Danijel Subašić after being neatly played in by Jesse Lingard. However, Subašić pulled of a good stop but the ball again fell to Kane right next to the post, Kane sorted his feet out and released a shot that on initial viewing looked to have hit the post, however, after closer inspection, Subašić made potentially the save of the tournament. Recovering quickly from his earlier save to get a toe to the goal-bound shot. The first half drew to a close and England had looked the much better side and had they taken their chances, could have and should have been 3-0 up. However, they weren't and only found themselves 1-0 up, giving Croatia the belief they needed that they could still turn the game on its head.
Croatia looked much better than their first half showing and began to threaten England's defence. But the Three Lions defence showed their resolve and kept the Croatia attack at bay. However, as the half drew on, England's chances of furthering their advantage were getting slimmer and slimmer and Croatia continued to push for an equaliser. Despite the resilient England defending, Croatia found their desperately desired equaliser in the 68th minute. An unmarked, unpressured Šime Vrsaljko had time and space to deliver a perfectly weighted and curled cross into the box that was met by boot of Ivan Perišić, which just beat the head of England defender Kyle Walker to the ball. England lacked composure when they needed it most, particularly in midfield. They failed to slow the game down and regain control of the game as Croatia had their tails up and the wind in their sails. England were well and truly shaken and on-the-ropes as just minutes after the equaliser, Perišić found himself through on goal again. A couple of fancy step-overs beat Walker for the second time and his shot went across the face of goal and cannoned back off the post. England were lucky not to find themselves 2-1 down. After such a strong first half showing, failing to take their chances when on top proved to be costly.
Kieran Trippier Curls Home 20-Yard Free Kick to Give England 5 Minute Lead
England hang on until extra time and began to look much more like their first half performance in the first half of extra time. They pushed for a winner while still defending well. They continued to create good chances and were the better team for the first half of extra time. England came desperately close to regaining the lead 100 minutes in as John Stones' header from a corner beat Subašić but was cleared off the line by Vrsaljko. Croatia did however have a brilliant chance of their own in the dying moments of the half. Perišić whipped in a cross that went inbetween the retreating England defenders and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford that was met by Mario Mandžukić, but Jordan Pickford pulled off a wonder save, throwing himself at Mandžukić, making himself big and blocking the point-blank effort.
Mandžukić Beats Stones and Pickford To Give Croatia 2-1 Lead
Again, Croatia were more dominant in the second half, much like the 90 minutes. The sinking, devastating blow came on the 110th minute as Croatia had flipped the game on its head and lead the game 2-1. Josip Pivarić's cross was blocked by Walker, Perišić won the resulting header against Trippier and Mandžukić reacted quicker and beat Stones to the ball to smash home past Pickford just 10 minutes from time. England were deflated, Croatia ecstatic. England gambled everything to try and find a last gasp equaliser. Although, however hard they searched, it wasn't to be found and Croatia were through to the final against France, while England would battle it out for third place against Belgium.
While it may hurt now, that our best chance of winning a world cup may have slipped through our hands, the future looks wonderfully bright. As well as this current squad only being the third youngest at the tournament, meaning the team is still in development and have potentially another two tournaments together, at least. Our youth teams are winning World Cups and European Championships at their respective age brackets and we continue to bring through and develop promising young talent and we have a manager in Southgate that has managed England youth levels before and isn't afraid to implement players into his system and his plans for his England team. This World Cup can and hopefully will be used as an invaluable learning experience for this young team. While there may be disappointment, there is an overruling feeling of pride. This team has taken us to only our third semi-final in our history, ended our disastrous World Cup penalty shoot-out record by winning our first World Cup penalty shoot-out, getting further than anybody could have ever expected and most importantly, reuniting the nation in a time of such division and uncertainty. Well done Gareth and the boys! They'll all come home as heroes.
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England Players Down and Out Following Semi-Final Defeat
Written by Luke Boatfield
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