Semi Final Recap Two - England vs Croatia

As England bow out of yet another major tournament empty handed, the feeling is not one of comprehensive disappointment and anger. Instead, it is one that Gareth Southgate and his men have created a building block from which they can fully assault Euro 2020 and then Qatar 2022 - as this time, the media and fans are not conducting a post mortem examination on the entire St. Georges setup, rather they are lauding it.

The progress made since the calamity of Euro 2016 and the shock defeat to minnows Iceland has been remarkable, and this World Cup run has been the glue to bind back together the English public, especially the football viewing ones. Englishmen and women disjointed from the international game are now re-engaged, with the non-football watching public also taking interest, once more at the mercy of England’s performances. This is exactly what the England setup needed, and whether the fortuitous run of games they experienced in Russia flattered the side or not, the World Cup has worked and the immense disconnect between players and fans has been repaired. Obvious parallels have been drawn between Germany in 2010 and this England adaptation and as Gareth Southgate has said, it is very much a sink or swim situation for England as they move into the next four years - this side, buoyed on by a young manager and an array of exciting young talents can either continue their ascent or fall down getting there.

The Semi-Final which saw them exit Russia was one that proved to be a step too far for England. Their opponents Croatia soared through their group and looked great value to go deep in the tournament, but successive games where extra time was required appeared to sapp the energy out of the squad and England, looking fresh after a cruisy victory against Sweden promised to run them around. Pre-game injury concerns surrounding the fitness of important centre half Vida and fullback Vrsaliko appeared to further dent their chances, with Luka Modric, nearing 33, also playing part in nearly every minute of their campaign.

These fears never came to fruition, however, and Croatia’s starting side was unchanged bar the exclusion of Andrej Kramaric who was replaced by the more defensively astute Marcelo Brozovic. England’s starting side was also unchanged in their 3-5-2.

England started the better side and just five minutes in Kieran Trippier became just the third Englishman to score at a World Cup Semi Final after a wonderful free kick found its way into the top corner. From that point England continued to dominate but could not double their advantage. Jesse Lingard turned his shot wide after a golden opening on the edge of the box and then Harry Kane went through one on one with Subasic and perhaps should have done better to finish the initial attempt before his second nibble came off the post and behind for a corner.

As the game went on, the Croatian influence increased as their pressing became more effective. They had set out to stop England playing out from the back and Jordan Pickford could rarely pull of the spellbinding passes he usually can with Mandzukic and Rebic getting tight to the 23 year old on several occasions, forcing the long ball. Eventually England became starved of possession and looked a shadow of themselves in the second half as it became seemingly inevitable that the Croatians would score. That eventuality came to fruition when Ivan Perisic converted a cross by getting in front of Kyle Walker, and Croatia did not cease to attack after - England were running out of ideas.

Getting to full time was a battle for the quickly tiring English but they looked better in the first period of extra time - unfortunately nothing tangible came from it and when Mario Mandzukic struck 109’ minutes in it would prove to be the defining goal of the game. The Juve man’s movement to meet the ball was excellent and his finish speaking to something within the Croatian side that England lack: experience.

Finishing at 2-1, Croatia go into the final battered but confident of their ability to keep France quiet - England will look to topple Belgium to finish third, and the environment in the camp will be conducive to a win as they exit Russia with hope and not anger.