FIFA World Cup 2018: Croatia knockout England in extra-time thriller - how it happened

LIVE BLOG

• 12 Jul 2018, 02:06 AM

  FULL-TIME | CROATIA 2-1 ENGLAND

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 02:03 AM

  '124

  Free-kick for England from a dangerous spot.

  This has to be their last chance. Rashford to cross it into the box.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:58 AM

  '118

  Croatia take off their captain Luka Modric. Makes sense to protect your best player for the final.

  Just a couple of minutes to play, are the England players 'coming home'?

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:53 AM

  '115

  Croatia's hero Mandzukic limps off.

  England have upped the tempo but Croatia are attacking too.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:51 AM

  A goal out of nowehere!

  Mandzukic gets at the end of a brilliant back-headed pass, the veteran striker shoots from six yards and there's nothing Pickford can do.

  This surely has to be the winner. Or do England have something special left in the tank?

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:48 AM

  GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLL

  Mandzukic gives Croatia the lead!

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:46 AM

  And we're off in the second period of extra-time.

  Will the game finally have a winning goal?

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:44 AM

  End of the first period of extra-time

   

  Croatia 1-1 England

  England were definitely the better side in these fifteen minutes, but Croatia created the best chance.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:42 AM

  WHAT. A. SAVE.

  Perisic plays a lethal ball from the left, Mandzukic gets the touch, the ball was heading in but Pickford comes up with arguably the save of the tournament.

  Mandzukic stays down and gets some treatment after the clash with Pickford.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:37 AM

  '106

  Modric plays a delightful side-footed pass to free-up Perisic, he runs in from the left and tees it up for Rakitic but the shot is blocked.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:35 AM

  '101

  Croatia take Rebic off and get Kramaric.

  Rebic can be proud of performance tonight, was one of the key players in attack for his team.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:32 AM

  '98

  Rose, in for Young, dribbles in from the left but takes to long to make the pass.

  England manage to earn a corner, though.

  Off the line clearance!

  Stones gets a powerful header that was heading for the top corner, but Vrsaljko jumps and makes a heroic clearance.

  That was the winner right there.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:30 AM

  '96

  Booking: Yellow card for Croatia's Rebic. Silly attempt at halting an English attack by pulling a shirt.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:29 AM

  '94

  Strinic limps off, is replaced by Pivaric. A few couple of minutes wasted there.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:27 AM

  Some more numbers for you. #CROENG // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/XzqStvUw5H

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:20 AM

  We're off in extra-time1

  Will there be a winner in the next 30 minutes or are we going to have a shoot-out?

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:20 AM

  We're going into extra-time, Croatia's third in a row.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:19 AM

  1-1 AFTER 90 MINUTES

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:18 AM

  Kane gets at the end of it but his header is completely out of control.

  Goal-kick for Croatia.

  Seems like we're heading into extra-time yet again.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:17 AM

  '91

  Rashford dribbles past Rakitic, gets a free-kick far on the right. Trippier to play the ball in.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:13 AM

  We're into stoppage time in the second half, three minutes have been added.

  A goal now will surely be the winner.

  The tension in the stadium is palpable.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:10 AM

  '86

  Strinic makes a probing run from the left, he cuts in with some neat footwork and plays it to Perisic on the right. But his pass is behind and the ball rolls away for a throw-in.

  That looked like a promising move.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:08 AM

  '83

  Another good move from Croatia. Mandzukic gets a shot away from an acute angle on the right, Pickford blocks it easily.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:02 AM

  '80

  England finding something here. Good period of play for them. A lot of the passing in Croatia's half.

  Their fans are singing their national anthem.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 01:00 AM

  Must say, Croatia have come out a different team in the second half.

  They looked berift of ideas in the opening 45 minutes. Maybe that had something to do with the back-to-back penalty shoot-outs they played to get here.

  But they're in complete control now.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:56 AM

  '72

  Croatia hit the post!

  Absolutely sensational play from Perisic!

  The striker does a step-over and skips past the last man, he shoots from his left and beats Pickford but the post comes to England's rescue.

  The rebound is hit straight to the keeper too.

  It's all Croatia all of a sudden. England struggling to string two passes together.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:55 AM

  Vrsaljko crosses it from the right, Perisic pokes it into the corner.

  Walker goes for a low header but is beaten comfortably.

  Game on!

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:53 AM

  GOOOOAAAALLLLLL

  Croatia make it 1-1

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:51 AM

  '65

  Croatia get their best chance of the match!

  Modric crosses into the box from the right, England clear but the ball falls to Perisic at the edge of the box.

  He shoots and it's just about deflected.

  In all this, Walker manages to injure himself and is given treatment.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:50 AM

  Another big crowd at the Luzhniki! #CROENG // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/py9sHxfFXM

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:47 AM

  '63

  England come close!

  Sterling dribbles his way deep into the box but trips at the last moment and Croatia clear the ball.

  He was in a good position to get a shot away.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:44 AM

  '59

  Croatia get a corner after an awful clearance from Walker.

  The ball is played right into the six-yard box but Pickford does well to punch it away.

  Meanwhile, Lovren and Lingard get into a heated argument. The ref separates them promptly.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:43 AM

  '56

  Trippier plays a corner into the box which is cleared. He gets the ball on the right again and puts in a dangerous first time cross.

  Kane comes running in and almost connects a diving header. First real chance of the second half.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:39 AM

  '54

  Second yellow of the match goes to England's Walker.

  Croatia build a nice attack down the center, Rebic almost gets the ball on the left but Walker reaches first and clears.

  He then gets booked for holding on to the ball and wasting time. Silly again.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:35 AM

  Correction: The yellow was for Mandzukic, not Rebic. The striker is booked for punching the ball away in anger after Rebic's foul.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:34 AM

  '48

  First booking of the match, yellow card for Croatia's Rebic. Silly foul.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:32 AM

  Croatia keep the ball in the first couple of minutes.

  Pass the ball from left to right, right to left, but fail to probe further.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:30 AM

  Croatia take the field first, England take their time to make their way out. Understandably so.

  All the players are finally read.

  Will Croatia make a match of this?

  Let's find out!

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:29 AM

  The players are making their way out to the field.

  We're about to get going with the second half in Moscow.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:19 AM

  Key stats:
  
  #ENG are leading at half time for the seventh time in a #WorldCup knockout match. Of the previous six they have won five
  
  @trippier2's goal is the first scored from a direct free-kick by #ENG at the World Cup since David Beckham vs Ecuador in 2006#CROENG pic.twitter.com/hzGaUoCgPe

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:16 AM

  It was a half in which both teams had their chances.

  England coverted a free-kick and wasted a couple of bright opportunities.

  But Croatia are by no means out of this contest.

  With a World Cup final berth at stake, we can surely expect more goals in the next 45 minutes.

  Join us after a short break for the second half!

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:15 AM

  HALF-TIME

  Croatia 0-1 England

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:13 AM

  '45

  Croatia squander a great chance!

  Rakitic gets into the box with a wonderful turn, but the Barca man can't make room for a shot.

  We're into stoppage time in the first half, one minute has been added.

  Can Croatia get an equaliser before the break?

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:08 AM

  '43

  Vrsaljko shoots from far but the ball heads towards the second tier.

  More of the play in England's half now, but Croatia far from creating a clear chance.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:06 AM

  England keep coming close to doubling their lead.

  A second goal from them at this point should mean Game, Set, Match.

  On the other hand, it's not a good sign for England that they're wasting chance after chance.

  A one-goal lead can always come back to bite you.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:03 AM

  '35

  Another poor miss from England!

  Lingard gets a clear shot from the edge of the box. He is straight in front of goal, tries to curl it in but it doesn't.

  
• 12 Jul 2018, 12:01 AM

  '32

  Modric dribbles his way into the England half, Rebic takes over and fires from about 35 yards.

  Easy catch for Pickford. Croatia, though, should consider taking more such long-rangers.

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:58 PM

  '29

  Kane misses a huuuge chance!

  He was one-on-one with the keeper, tried to slot it in the corner but Subasic got his leg out on time.

  Kane got to the rebound and tried to sneak it in from an acute angle but the Croatian defence got back. He could've played it back and set up a team-mate.

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:56 PM

  '27

  Young plays a long ball into a packed box, Subasic does well to get a punch away.

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:53 PM

  '25

  End to end stuff now.

  Perisic runs down the left and sends a cross into Pickford's arms.

  Sterling then makes a run of his own down the flank but is cut out by the last defender.

  Free-flowing football.

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:49 PM

  '21

  Lovren checks Kane at the half, free-kick for England.

  The Croatian defender is not happy, though.

  England come close!

  Kane is played inside the box, he's in a one-on-one position but the flag is up. His shot goes wide too.

  A chance created out of nowhere.

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:47 PM

  '18

  First semblance of an attack from Croatia.

  Rakitic shoots from 30 yards and it crashes into the side-netting.

  There are appeals for a corner but the ref doesn't oblige.

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:45 PM

  England are really turning it on in Moscow.

  They have the lead but are still relentless in attack.

  It's seems a long road for Croatia to find an equaliser.

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:44 PM

  The Bury Beckham strikes early in Moscow! #CROENG 0-1#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/mptPSWum6X

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  STAT | Tottenham Hotspur (12) surpass Barcelona (11) as the club whose players have scored most goals in this #WorldCup#CROENG 0-1 pic.twitter.com/lo10VraWWt

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:42 PM

  '13

  England build another attack, Alli runs across from the center and finds Trippier on the right.

  They get a corner but Maguire'e header has no power and rolls past the post.

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:39 PM

  What English dreams are made of! #CROENG 0-1#WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ecsplR4s5d

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:36 PM

  Croatia try to get back, earn a corner but it's cleared with ease.

  No one could've predicted such a start to this game.

  Will we have more goals or will this prove to be the winner?

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:35 PM

  What. A. Shot.

  Trippier with a free-kick that would make Beckham proud.

  Curled in, bent at just the right time and crashed into the net as the keeper stood staring.

  Sensational start for England!

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:35 PM

  GOOOOAAAALLLLL

  England have the lead!

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:30 PM

  '4

  Free-kick for England in a dangerous area, just outside box.

  Clumsy tackle from Modric on Alli.

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:29 PM

  The players have taken, we're ready for kick-off.

  Who will face France in the final? Let's find out!

  Here we go!

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:22 PM

  Croatia and England are lining up for the national anthems. The last semi-final match is a few minutes away from kick-off. Who do you think will face France on Sunday? 

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:22 PM

  Gareth Southgate has walked out so has the English side. He looks nervous, don't you think so? 

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:03 PM

  Okay Twitter, let us know your match prediction...#CROENG // #WorldCup // @HNS_CFF // @England

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  
  #CRO dressing room at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium#BeProud #Family #CROENG #WorldCup #Vatreni pic.twitter.com/VuuzUhJFzw

  — HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) July 11, 2018

  This was the scene just two hours ago... Now fans are filling the stadium from all directions! #CROENG #ENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/dNkOdy8UUd

  — Laure James, FIFA (@FIFAWorldCupENG) July 11, 2018

  Team Arrivals 
  Starting XI Confirmed #CROENG is edging closer!
  TV listings  https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO@HNS_CFF // @England // #WorldCup

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  FORMATIONS // #CROENG
  
  #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/uMi7msByS9

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  These two men may be pretty important this evening...#CROENG // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/zqO8z3p1Qo

  — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018

  
• 11 Jul 2018, 11:02 PM

  Hello everyone and welcome to live updates of the FIFA World Cup 2018 semi-final between Croatia and England.

  We're about half-an-hour away from kick-off at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.