Mario Mandzukic strikes extra time killer blow to wreck England's 'coming home' dreams and send Croatia into World Cup final
The result of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final between England and Croatia was always going to be historic.
For England, it was the chance to return to the final for the first time since its legendary 1966 victory; for Croatia, it was a chance at its first World Cup final ever.
Ultimately, Croatia made it through, recovering from a brutal first half to forge a path to victory 2-1 in extra time.
England began the first half in truly dominant fashion. A free kick in the fifth minute near Croatia's box gave Kieran Trippier an early goal - an arcing shot that soared over Croatia's wall, so good Croatian goalie Danijel Subasic could only shrug.
In the subsequent minutes, England earned multiple penalties, but failed to transform its famed set pieces into subsequent goals. Croatia's form improved as the half drew on, but after more failed attempts on goal both sides, the teams went into half-time 1-0 to England.
In the second half, everything changed. Croatia's Perisic scored a goal in the 68th minute - a high kick that England's spectacular Jordan Pickford was unable to block - and the momentum shifted completely. Suddenly, Croatia was dominant, crowding England's box again and again, with the English squad scrambling to prevent Croatia taking the lead. Pickford, suddenly, was fored to take a far more active role in the game.
In the 90th minute, England was granted a free kick just yards from Croatia's penalty box, but Trippier's shot to Kane's head failed to make it to the back of the net. Croatia pushed back in the dying moments of the second half, but Perisic's attempt failed to land Croatia the last-minute win it so desperately wanted.
In the ninth minute of extra time, a corner gave England's Stones a glorious header on goal - but Croatia's Vrsaljko was able to head it away. In the injury time before the half, Mandzukic should've had one, but Pickford managed to kick it away. The resultant corner went nowhere, and the teams headed into the second half of extra time neck-and-neck.
After patient passing build-up play in the 108th minute, Mario Mandzukic popped up on the six-yard line to dim England's dreams. The Croatia striker evaded his marker, found space in the box, and needed just one touch to tease the ball past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and break a nation's hearts.
The winning team will now go through to the final on Sunday, to play France - a team that will have been watching Wednesday's long and gruelling match eagerly after its 1-0 victory over Belgium on Tuesday.
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