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Croatia reached the World Cup final for the first time in its history on Wednesday, after Mario Mandzukic's winner extended England's suffering in major tournaments and set a decisive match against France
in the fifth minute of Kieran Trippier's superb free kick but pushed back by Ivan Perisic and Mandzukic to win a tense 2-1 match in front of 78,000 spectators at the Luzhniki stadium.
Beating the young team of Gareth Southgate, Croatia – a country of only four million people surpassed the exploits of the heroes of 1998, who reached the semi-finals in France.
Croatian players celebrated proudly in front of their supporters in Moscow while in Zagreb tens of thousands of fans flocked to the streets and squares, singing and waving red, white and blue flags.
After leading for over an hour, England will have trouble digesting its hopes of reaching a first World Cup. Since 1965, the young have been crushed, but their young team has won many admirers in Russia
Croatia must quickly recover from the victory of Sunday, which is not easy after an extension for a third consecutive game. It was a very difficult match, we all know what was at stake, how important a semifinal is for a small country like Croatia, "said Perisic, the man of the match. our character just like we did in the previous two knockout rounds where we were a goal in both matches. "Twenty years ago, I was back home at Omis, my hometown, I rooted for Croatia, wearing a Croatian jersey, and I could only dream of playing for my country and scoring a goal.
"We are eviscerated"
The England players collapsed at the final whistle, barely able to believe in their victory. The dream of the World Cup was over after reaching the semifinal for the first time since 1990.
"We are emptied," said Harry Kane, still in the running for the top scorer title of the tournament with six goals in Russia. "It hurts, it hurts a lot, it's going to hurt for a while of course, we can keep our heads up, it's a fantastic trip, we've gone over all the others." I thought we could have do. "
" I can not ask more players, "said a disappointed Southgate. "I think knockout football is about good margins and when you have good spells against the good side, you have to take your chances." 19659002 "Tonight we were not quite there but we are going to learn, we have left everything there."
In London, a first wave of exaltation has been transformed in sorrow, while 30,000 beer fans in Hyde Park have seen their team miss.
About 30 million people would have watched match on television in Britain.
Trippier gave a dream start to England on a 25-yard free kick after Danijel Subasic's desperate plunge after the Dele Alli overthrow in a central position
. In the second half, Perisic equalized for Croatia in the 68th minute, beating Kyle Walker to deceive Sime Vrsaljko's center after a dip by Jordan Pickford
. The winning goal in the 109th minute, after sweeping the ball past Pickford after Perisic's recovery in the box, surprised the English defense
Prince William, the president of the Football Association, said I am proud of the Southgate team
"I know how @england should be disappointed at the moment but I could not be more proud of this team and you should keep your head up," he said. he tweeted. 19659011] Solid French Defense
France has the advantage of a day of rest more than its opponents after reaching the final for the third time in its history on Tuesday.
A Samuel Umtiti's head enough for a 1-0 win against Belgium in St. Petersburg, sending tens of thousands of people on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees to Paris in scenes of joy as seen last Once France won the World Cup in 1998.
The much vaunted attack of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, the French defense made the difference by ending Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku and showed that They would be hard to beat on Sunday.
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