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FIFA World Cup 2018: England 1 - 2 Croatia - Mandzukic goal sets up Croatia final with France

FIFA World Cup 2018: England vs Croatia live blog: Harry Kane-led Three Lions will hope to make the final for the first time since 1966 against Luka Modric's Croatia

Ivan Perisic of Croatia is overjoyed after scoring the equaliser against England during their FIFA World Cup 2018 semi-final

Moscow, July 11: England's bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup final for the first time since 1966 were hampered by Croatia, who won 2-1 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Wednesday. Croatia, who had never reached the final before, rallied from a goal down to beat England.

FIFA World Cup special page | Photo gallery

Kieran Trippier gave England the lead from a free-kick in the fifth minute. But England stood back and defended that goal instead of going for home. Ivan Perisic struck the equaliser in the 68th minute and pushed the game into extra time, the third time that Croatia has played 120 minutes of football. Even as England players couldn't keep up, Mario Mandzukic zoomed in to score Croatia's second and Zlatko Dalic's men held on for the win.

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All the action as it happened:

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Jul 12, 2018, 2:12 am IST

Mario for the win!

Jul 12, 2018, 2:11 am IST

France, watch out! Croatia have just registered a great comeback, rallying from a goal down to defeat the mighty England 2-1! This team can definitely play some football!

Jul 12, 2018, 2:10 am IST

It's done! Croatia book a final with France and Mandzukic's late goal is enough to keep England at bay. The Cup is not going home after all.

Jul 12, 2018, 2:07 am IST

120+4 min: Last chance for England as a handball by Badelj hands them a free-kick. It is Rashford's duty to float it in and England are unable to make anything of it.

Jul 12, 2018, 2:03 am IST

120 min: England are playing their last five minutes with 10 men as Trippier is unable to continue. Southgate has made all his changes and hopes his men can do something in the four minutes of added time.

Jul 12, 2018, 2:01 am IST

118 min: Rashford floats in a free-kick from down the left and a corner is supposed to be awarded to England, but the referee is not interested. Lastly, Croatia replace captain Modric with Badelj.

Jul 12, 2018, 2:00 am IST

115 min: Goalscorer Mandzukic goes off and Croatia make a defensive replacement, bringing in Corluka. Trippier, meanwhile, is off the pitch, unable to walk and in tears.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:56 am IST

112 min: England throw in Jamie Vardy for Kyle Walker, hoping to get something out of this tie. Croatia, meanwhile, are happy to waste time.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:53 am IST

109 min: GOAL! Have Croatia sealed their spot in the final? Mario Mandzukic you beaut! Where did that come from? Walker's clearance off Rakitic's cross from the left goes as far as Perisic, who glances it backwards into the box and Mandzukic runs across the box to blast it into the bottom-right corner.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:50 am IST

108 min: Rakitic sets up Brozovic from a corner but the latter's pile-driver goes wide of the left post.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:45 am IST

105+2 min: Point-blank save! Pickford keeps England alive in this tie, facing Mandzukic's shot head on. Earlier, substitute Kramaric had his shot blocked .

Jul 12, 2018, 1:38 am IST

102 min: Kramaric comes on for Rebic, Croatia's second change.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:36 am IST

99 min: Vrsaljko is the hero again! Trippier whips it up nice from the corner and Stones rises tall to glance the header towards the goal but the Croatian defender, who provided the assist for Perisic's equaliser, makes a goalline clearance. ENG 1 - 1 CRO

Jul 12, 2018, 1:30 am IST

94 min: Strinic goes down with cramps and Pivaric is the first change for Croatia.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:29 am IST

93 min: England have brought in Rashford (for Sterling) and Rose (for Young) while Croatia are yet to make a change. Saving the best for last?

Jul 12, 2018, 1:28 am IST

92 min: Croatia beat Denmark and Russia after extra time and penalty shootout. England similarly knocked out Colombia after a shootout in the Round of 16. The first 15 minutes of extra time is underway.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:24 am IST

The match stats after 90 minutes.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:23 am IST

ENG 1 - 1 CRO - Either team can find the net after three minutes of added time. This match is going into extra time and Croatia are making 120 minutes of football a regular feature in this FIFA World Cup.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:18 am IST

90+1 min: Rakitic throws himself on Rashford and England have a free-kick the edge of the box. They scored from a similar set-piece in the first half! Trippier floats the ball in but this time, Kane's poke at the goal drifts wide.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:16 am IST

89 min: Both teams are on the verge of scoring but are lacking that finesse up front. Are we set for extra time? Remember, this would be the third occasion this FIFA World Cup that Croatia have not been able to clinch a match within 90 minutes

Jul 12, 2018, 1:12 am IST

Perisic's equaliser livens up the game.

Jul 12, 2018, 1:11 am IST

81 min: England look shaky now. Trippier sees Perisic next to him and his back-pass from the edge of the box almost sets up Perisic. However, Stones keeps a check on Perisic, allowing goalkeeper Pickford to clear away the danger. ENG 1 - 1 CRO

Jul 12, 2018, 1:04 am IST

71 min: POST! Just 3 minutes after finding the net, Perisic is at it again. He gushes in and is set to give Croatia the lead with a flat shot to Pickford's left, but the ball hits the post and Rebic could not react quickly to make something of the rebound.

Jul 12, 2018, 12:58 am IST

68 min: GOAL! Croatia equalise and deservedly so. Vrsaljko lofts one into the box from the right flank and even as Walker hoped to head away the danger, Perisic steps ahead to get his foot in, meets the cross and directs the ball in. ENG 1 - 1 CRO

Jul 12, 2018, 12:53 am IST

65 min: CHANCE! Perisic latches on to the rebound at the edge of the box and his powerful whip is blocked by Stones to deny Croatia again. ENG 1 - 0 CRO

Jul 12, 2018, 12:51 am IST

63 min: Sterling finds himself on the right side the box and as he looks to zoom past Vida, the Croatian stops him on his tracks. No penalty. ENG 1 - 0 CRO

Jul 12, 2018, 12:49 am IST

61 min: So far, Croatia have committed 14 fouls compared to England's seven. Dalic's side somehow need to redirect their focus on creating chances.

Jul 12, 2018, 12:46 am IST

59 min: Better from Croatia. They seem to have found a spark in the second half, making more runs into the box and going for those crosses. A goal still eludes them. ENG 1 - 0 CRO

Jul 12, 2018, 12:43 am IST

54 min: Walker unnecessarily gets into the referee's book for stopping a quick throw-in and getting into a tussle with Croatia's Rebic. ENG 1 - 0 CRO

Jul 12, 2018, 12:39 am IST

52 min: Croatia dominate the possession in the early stages of the second half, like they did the last 45 minutes. However, they are unable to find a breakthrough against England and instead, Mandzukic is booked.

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Didier Deschamps' France await Croatia in the final on July 15 at the same venue. England will battle it out with Belgium for the third spot at the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Saint Petersburg on July 14.

Story first published: Thursday, July 12, 2018, 2:16 [IST]
Other articles published on Jul 12, 2018