THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2018 20

Croatia’s goal scorers Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic celebrates

Croatia’s players celebrate at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup semi-final football match Croatia create

historyThe Blazers set up the summit clash with France Mandzukic breaks England’s hearts and fires Croatia into World Cup final Set-piece record for England Goal | Moscow of eight England held along AFP | Moscow with Portugal’s 1966 side ngland have set a record heading into the semi-final ario Mandzukic scored Efor the most set-piece in Moscow. the winning goal deep in goals at a World Cup since Overall, the Three Lions extra time as Croatia beat 1966. have scored nine of their 12 England 2-1 in an utter- Kieran Trippier’s early goals at the tournament from ly gripping World Cup free-kick in the semi-final set pieces. Msemi-final in Moscow yesterday to set up Wednesday June 11 against Croatia on yesterday Harry Kane, the World a final date with France. CROATIAgave the Three Lions their2 Cup1 GoldenENGLAND Boot leader, has The Juventus forward netted in the 109th ninth set-piece strike of the scored three of his six goals minute to complete a remarkable comeback tournament. from penalties and another from a shattered Croatian team and take the That goal breaks the record two from corner kicks. small nation of little more than four million 68’ Perisic Moscow - Luzhniki Stadium Trippier 5’ people into the World Cup final for the first Semi-final time in their short history. 109’ Mandzukic England will face Belgium for third place Kieran Trippier’s magnificent early free- What on Saturday at 5:00 PM in Saint Petersburg kick had seemingly set England on course Referee Croatia will face France in the final to reach their first final since they lifted the next? Cuneyt Cakir (TUR) trophy on home soil back in 1966. on Sunday at 6:00 PM in Moscow Wednesday June 11 CROATIA 2 1 ENGLAND But it wasn’t to be, as Croatia came roar- Kyle Walker of England clashes with Ivan Perisic of Croatia ing back in the second half and equalised Players Possession Players through Ivan Perisic before somehow find- Wednesday68’ June 11 Perisic CROATIAMoscow - Luzhniki2 1 StadiumENGLAND Trippier 5’ ing the energy to win despite being taken against Denmark and Russia in the last back, and England’s first goal direct from 109’ Mandzukic Semi-final to extra time for the third time in 10 days. two rounds, saw the game out, dousing23 Subasic a free-kick at the World Cup since David 1 Pickford 68’ Perisic Moscow - LuzhnikiReferee Stadium Trippier 5’ Ivan Perisic (68’)Cuneyt Cakir (TUR) The biggest winners of the night could the World Cup dream of Gareth South - Beckham against Ecuador in 2006. 109’ Mandzukic Semi-final well be France, who have had an extra day’s gate’s side that had gone from the improb2 -VrsaljkoEngland could not have imagined a better 2 Walker 112’ Players PossessionReferee Players rest for Sunday’s final after edging out Bel- able to the possible over the last month3 inStrinic start. 95’ Cuneyt Cakir (TUR) Kieran 5 Stones gium 1-0 on Tuesday. Russia. Croatia were stunned, and Ivan Rakitic,23 Subasic 54% Possession 46%Trippier (5’) 1 Pickford 2 Vrsaljko Players Mario Possession 2 Walker Players 112’ That will not matter too much right now Southgate stuck with the same starting4 Perisic usually so accomplished, was especially goal scorers 6 Maguire 3 Strinic 95’ Mandzukic 5 Stones for Croatia, who are the smallest nation line-up as that which eased past Sweden off his game. 23 Subasic 54% 46% 1 Pickford 4 Perisic (109’) 6 Maguire to make it to the final since Uruguay back in the quarter-finals, while Inter Milan’s6 Lovren Zlatko Dalic’s side did gradually grow2 Vrsaljko 2 Walker 7 Lingard112’ 63LovrenStrinic 95’ 57 StonesLingard in 1950. Marcelo Brozovic replaced Andrej Kra7 -Rakiticinto the contest, but they could still7 Rakitic be 54% 46% 8 Henderson 8 Henderson97’ 97’ England had been the ones hoping to maric in the Croatian line-up. relieved to go in at half-time only one4 goalPerisic 6 Maguire 106ModricLovren (cap) 119’ 22 Shots 11 79 LingardKane (cap) make history, in what was their first appear- 10 Modricdown, especially (cap) as Harry Kane was119’ 11deniedBrozovic 22 Shots 11 10 Sterling 9 Kane74’ (cap) England’s dream start 7 Rakitic 8 Henderson 97’ ance in the semi-finals in 28 years. 11 Brozovicby a combination of goalkeeper Danijel1710MandzukicModric (cap)(cap) 115’119’ 227 OnShots target 111 129 KaneTrippier (cap)(cap) 10 Sterling 74’ Then they were beaten on penalties by They were looking to the inspirational Luke Subasic and the woodwork on the18 11half-RebicBrozovic 101’ 1018 SterlingYoung 74’91’ West Germany. Having ended their fa - Modric to control the game, but instead17 itMandzukic hour mark. 115’2117VidaMandzukic 115’ 7 On237 targetOnFouls target 141 1 1220 TrippierAlli 12 Trippier 18 Rebic 101’ 18 Young 91’ mous penalty curse by beating Colombia was he who gave away the early free-kick Croatia hung on and it was to their22 Pivaricim- 95’ (cap) = Captain Yellow card 19 Rashford 74’ 21 Vida 23 Fouls 14 20 Alli in a shootout in the last 16, they might have from which Trippier put England ahead.18 Rebicmense credit that they turned the101’ tide9 afterKramaric 101’ Substitution Red card 3 Rose 18 Young91’ 91’ fancied repeating here. It was a fantastic curling effort from21 25Vida the break in what developed into an522 epicCorlukaPivaric 115’95’ 23og=own(cap)(cap) == CaptainCaptain goal,Fouls pen=penalty YellowYellow cardcard14 194 RashfordDier 20 Alli74’97’ But Croatia, having won on penalties yards from the Tottenham Hotspur full- encounter. 199BadeljKramaric 119’101’ Source:SubstitutionSubstitution FIFA RedRed cardcard 113 RoseVardy 91’112’ 5 Corluka 115’ og=ownog=own goal,goal, pen=penaltypen=penalty 4 Dier 97’ 22 Pivaric 95’19 Badelj (cap) 119’= CaptainSource:Source: FIFAFIFA Yellow card11 Vardy 19 Rashford112’ 74’ 9 Kramaric 101’ Substitution Red card 3 Rose 91’ 5 Corluka 115’ og=own goal, pen=penalty 4 Dier 97’ 19 Badelj 119’ Source: FIFA 11 Vardy 112’