Croatia 2-1 England (AET): Three Lions' World Cup dreams dashed

Football

Wed July 11, 2018 · 6y ago

Croatia will face France in their first World Cup final after coming from behind to dash England's dreams with a 2-1 extra-time victory at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Mario Mandzukic scored the goal that broke English hearts after 109 minutes as Croatia surpassed their 1998 side by securing their place in football's greatest game.

They have been installed at a price of 13/8 with Sky Bet to beat Didier Deschamps' odds-on favourites and lift the trophy.

It had started so promisingly for England who took the lead through Kieran Trippier's wonderful fifth-minute free-kick, but Ivan Perisic forced extra-time with Croatia's equaliser after 68 minutes.

Juventus striker Mandzukic then capitalised on a brief lapse in the English defence to put Croatia ahead for the first time, and there was no way back for Gareth Southgate's men.

Croatia will remain in Moscow for Sunday's World Cup final against France while England travel to Saint Petersburg for Saturday's third-place play-off against Belgium.

GOAL VIDEOS

Croatia 0-1 England: Kieran Trippier - 5'

GOAL! Kieran Trippier scores for @England with a fabulous free-kick! pic.twitter.com/WRQctKZakk
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 11, 2018

Croatia 1-1 England: Ivan Perisic - 68'

GOAL! Perisic volleys Croatia level with a fine finish! pic.twitter.com/2434fkVAqW
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 11, 2018

Croatia 2-1 England: Mario Mandzukic - 109'

GOAL! Mandzukic latches on to Perisic's header to give Croatia the lead in extra time! pic.twitter.com/n5gFQLxIHY
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 11, 2018

Opta match facts

England have now been eliminated in four of their five semi-finals at major tournaments, losing each of the last four in a row (Euro 1968 v Yugoslavia, World Cup 1990 v Germany, Euro 1996 v Germany and World Cup 2018 v Croatia).
Croatia have qualified for their first ever World Cup final in their fifth appearance at the World Cup finals.
England have lost three competitive games against Croatia (3) since the turn of the Millennium, more than any against any other nation.
Mario Mandzukic’s winning goal was the latest goal ever conceded by England in a World Cup match (108:03).
Ivan Perisic has been involved in 10 goals at major tournaments for Croatia (6 goals, 4 assists), the joint-most, level with Davor Suker (9 goals, 1 assist).
Kieran Trippier’s goal after 4 minutes and 44 seconds was the fastest goal scored in a World Cup semi-final since 1958 (Vava after two minutes for Brazil v France).
England scored nine goals from set pieces at the 2018 World Cup – the most by a team in a single World Cup tournament since 1966.