Croatia has broken English hearts at the World Cup, scoring in extra time to advance to the final against tournament favourites France.
Mario Mandzukic scored in the 109th minute to see Croatia came from behind and beat England 2-1, progressing to its first World Cup final and sending fans back home in the Balkan nation into raptures.
England, appearing in its first semi-final since 1990, had looked on course to reach its first final since 1966.
The Three Lions took the lead through Kieran Trippier’s fifth-minute free kick and totally dominated the opening half, before the momentum of the game changed and ran away from Gareth Southgate’s men.
Croatia levelled through Ivan Perisic after 68 minutes and then looked the more dangerous side.
The scores were level at 90 minutes, meaning Croatia faced extra time for the third successive game, having got past Denmark and Russia on penalties.
But just when it looked as if Croatia was destined to be the first team to appear in three shootouts at a single World Cup, Mandzukic struck with a well-taken low shot.
England coach Southgate said his team need to “suffer” their loss and understand the opportunity they passed up before pondering the positives from their remarkable campaign.
It was his first goal for his country, England’s 12th of the tournament and ninth from a set-piece, but England should have added more from open play as they revelled in the space they were being given in the first half.
Harry Kane shot weakly at Danijel Subasic when through, then forced the rebound against a post and Raheem Sterling was a constant thorn in the Croatia defence, though again his final ball was too often astray.
The best chance for a second goal, however, was wasted by an unmarked Jesse Lingard when he curled wide when a goal looked certain.
Croatia had been desperately poor but started to get a foothold in the game as the match rolled past the hour mark and Luka Modric’s influence grew.
England paid the price for those early misses when Perisic showed great determination to get in front of Kyle Walker to meet a curling Sime Vrsaljko cross and though his boot was arguably high, Walker was stooping and there were few complaints.
It was Croatia who struck in the 109th minute when Perisic won a header on the edge of the box and the ball dropped for Mandzukic whose firm low finish beat England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Source: http://www.abc.net.au
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