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Gareth Southgate (Getty)
Moscow – England dream of a first World Cup Final since 1966 but must first pbad by Wednesday's semifinal at the Luzhniki stadium against Croatia in what looks like their most difficult test yet in Russia.
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The excitement has reached feverish levels in England, with the young Gareth Southgate team going to the last four Major tournaments for the first time since the Euro & # 96; and for the first time in World Cup since Italy in 1990.
These two races resulted in defeats at shooting at purpose, but there is a belief that something could be different this time.
England has already won a shootout in Russia, against Colombia in the last 16 years. And a young, friendly side with an eminently sensitive and humble manager in Southgate have captured the hearts of a nation.
C Southgate became the first manager to win a World Cup semifinal with England abroad while he finally tries to compete with the team. Alf Ramsey?
"We did not know what this team could be capable of." Southgate admitted to ITV, aware of the recent failures of England.
They had won only one knockout match in a major tournament in 16 years before coming to Russia, a 1-0 win over Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. 19659006] "We believed in its potential, and I think that the games we prepared for were believed to be winning, but there is still pressure in all these matches, so I'm really happy with how Team
Southgate was just the voice of reason that England needed to prevent anyone from getting carried away.
For all the hype around England , they still have to face one of the really big guns at the World Cup.
They beat Tunisia in their opening opener of the match thanks to a goal from Harry Kane, dismissed a poor Panama , outshot Colombia on penalties and easily defeated Sweden in the quarter-finals
.
The challenge posed by Croatia should be more demanding, especially as the team of Zlatko Dalic is one of the best midfielder teams of Luka Modric and Ivan Rak itic
Modric, the playmaker of Real Madrid. He was at Tottenham Hotspur earlier in his career just as a young Kane was starting, was a source of special inspiration.
The captain was again the man of the match during the shootout win over Russia in Sochi this weekend.
This allowed Croatia to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the 1998 World Cup in France, which was their first independent nation.
For a country with a population of just over four million it All the way up to the finale would be a remarkable achievement.
"There is still a lot to play, England is also one of the favorites to win the World Cup and you have to respect that, but we have nothing to lose. let's take advantage of this game, and hope to be able to write the story, "said defender Dejan Lovren of Liverpool.
Since 1998, Croatia has suffered disappointments at major tournaments, losing notably the penalties to Turkey in the quarterfinals of Euro 2008. But the pressure is less on them now.
"The greatest pressure came against Denmark in the round of 16 (which was also extended and a penalty shoot-out) .We feel much easier at this point," said the striker. Mario Mandzukic.
The fact that Croatia had to play so much football might perhaps give England an advantage, especially since Dalic has injury problems. Goaltender Danijel Subasic has settled against Russia despite a hamstring injury, while right-back Sime Vrsaljko is expected to miss the match.
However, Southgate refuses to accept the idea that England will be significantly cooler. a World Cup semifinal will find the energy and will find the motivation. We will not win the match because Croatia has half an hour more football than we did three days ago. We have to win because we play better. "
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