England is aiming for the World Cup final, but talented Croatia stands on its way



[ad_1]

England will try to reach its first World Cup final since 1966, as it faces a talented team from Croatia on Wednesday to have the right to play France for the trophy.

France reached the final for the third time in its history on Tuesday. Samuel Umtiti offered a tactical victory in St. Petersburg.

The victory sent tens of thousands of French fans to the Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris in scenes of joy seen the last time France won the World Cup twenty years ago. France coach Didier Deschamps said he was delighted to have the chance to bury the pain of the Euro 2016 final, which his team lost at home. against Portugal.

"The finals have to be won because we still have not gone beyond the one we lost two years ago," he said. Also in England, the World Cup fever has developed with the young team of Gareth Southgate, who was preparing to reach the first World Cup since she won it. on his soil in 1966.

The country should stop Wednesday night as millions of fans watch the game. "We can feel the energy and support of the house and it's a very special feeling and a privilege for us," Southgate said Tuesday.

England is in the last four of a major tournament for the first time since the "Euro" 96, when Southgate himself missed a penalty in a shootout loss against Germany. He said that he was convinced that winning or losing on Wednesday, his team had a bright future after decades of under-achieving English on the international stage.

"We're going to start a semifinal, but it looks like it's the next leg of the trip," Southgate said. "This team is far from reaching the level at which it will be able, partly because of its age and partly because in the next few years, with us and with its clubs, it will have more and more big players experiences.

"We are therefore excited about the future, but we also want to make the most of the opportunity we have tomorrow." Croatia is wary of the threat posed by England captain Harry Kane, who is the tournament's top scorer with six goals to date.

The experienced Croatian team is led by tournament player Luka Modric. Defender Dejan Lovren rejected suggestions that the team would be tired after extra time and two shots on goal in their last two games.

"I am perfectly ready and fit and I can say the same thing for my teammates, we know what's needed and in such moments, you forget any tiredness you may feel," said the Liverpool player.

"It may be a unique opportunity in a lifetime, it can be repeated once, maybe never." This is the first time since 1998 that the nation of just over four million people has reached this stage, having eliminated Russia in a penalty shot this weekend.

France scored Belgium with a disciplined performance that was decided by another goal of the World Cup, while Barcelona defender Umtiti beat the defense to pbad the ball behind goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

It was a painful defeat for Belgium, thwarted in the semi-finals for the second time in its history, as the clock of its "golden generation" of players continues. Captain Eden Hazard shone at times but Kevin De Bruyne was calm and Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku was the shadow of the player he had been earlier in the tournament, although Belgium enjoyed most of the possession.

In delirious scenes in Paris, fans unleash firecrackers and release smoke rockets – and predict that they will win a second World Cup. "I was 18 years old in 1998, it was one of the most beautiful nights of my life, we will repeat it this Sunday," said a supporter, Sebastien, as the crowd chanted: "We are in the final!"

FIFA World Cup ™: Detailed coverage

[ad_2]
Source link