Semifinal #2 Recap: Croatia Comeback to Beat England To Play In Their First Ever WC Final

The last spot for the finals match was decided between the winner of Croatia and England. The latter country went up in the 5th minute from a Kieran Trippier free kick from 20 yards out, curling over the bar and into the top right corner. England would not have another shot for the rest of the game though. Minutes later after the goal, England's Harry Maguire had a header go wide of the post. In the 30th minute, Harry Kane, England's leading WC 2018 scorer, was one-on-one with Croatian keeper Danijel Subasic. After Jesse Lingard set him up, Kane's shot from a tight angle was blocked by Subasic, before his rebound hit the post, off Subasic over the crossbar, and then eventually cleared away. The whole sequence was ruled off sides. Croatia could not find an equalizer in the first half, its best chance from Ante Rebic, which was blocked by keeper Jordan Pickford. It would then take another 23 minutes after the second half started for the game to be level at 1. Sime Vrsaljko played a great cross in from the right that was poked in by Ivan Perisic, leaping over a diving Dele Alli to tie the game. Pickford had no chance at stopping Perisic's strike. Perisic would almost get a second goal three minutes later, when a giveaway left him with a shot from the left that hit the far post and out, before England could regroup and clear it out. Pickford soon saved Mario Mandzukic's attempt, but almost gave up a goal when his punch landed to Perisic, whose shot went over an empty net. England had a corner in stoppage time go wide of goal, and the match headed towards extra time. In the first extra half frame, John Stones nearly put England ahead with his header, but Vrsaljko cleared the bar off the line. At the end of the first half of extra time, Perisic set up Mandzukic with a lovely cross, but Pickford came just in time to block the sure tap-in with his legs, sending the ball over the net. Mandzukic would find the winner in the 109th minute, when a miscleared header by England set up Mandzukic one-on-one with Pickford, in which Mandzukic beat the keeper with his low strike. England had no great chances to tie it, ultimately relying on long set pieces, which resulted in nothing. Croatia have moved on to the final, where they will play France. England will play Belgium for third on Saturday.

Mandzukic (in black) runs towards the corner flag after scoring the late winner.