'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Croatia progressed to their first ever World Cup final after fighting back from a goal down to beat England 2-1.
Kevin Trippier put the Three Lions ahead after just 5 minutes with a superbly taken free-kick, but Croatia upped the ante after the break and found the leveler through Ivan Perisic. Then in extra-time, Mario Mandzukic deservedly netted the winner 5 minutes from time as Vatreni created history against all odds.
Yet more heartbreak for England, but there's plenty of optimism to draw from their campaign. However, it's Croatia's night and here's how they pulled it off.
#1 Croatia's attritional game wore England down
If the first-half had England written all over it, then the second stanza was all about Croatia. The Blazers returned from the break as the stronger side of the two and pushed forward in numbers.
Having passed rather sideways during the opening 45 minutes, Modric and co then cut through the lines with swift, slick passes that pinned England to the back foot. Croatia's surge was clearly getting on their nerves as it was only Jordan Pickford's brilliance that protected their lead.
But England's resolve was clearly wearing down and it was finally broken when Sime Vrsaljko laid in a cross from the right and Perisic beat Walker to the ball with his outstretched leg and equalised.
The goal simply buoyed them further as they then dominated possession and carved out a few more good chances to kill the game.
The winner may not have come until the second-half of extra-time, but Croatia's wave after wave of attack had clearly debilitated the Three Lions, who then had little to nothing left in the tank for the additional 30 minutes of play.
#2 Croatia bossed the midfield battle
One of the instrumental reasons for Croatia's dominant display in the second-half was because they bossed the midfield.
Manager Zlatko Dalic played Marcelo Brozovic in the midfield this time, leaving Andrej Kramaric on the bench despite scoring the equaliser in the last 8 clash against Russia.
The intention was clear - given Croatia's fatigue from playing 120 minutes of football from each of the previous 2 rounds, he opted for a more defensive and resolute midfield structure. It threatened to creak at times in the first-half, but it allowed the midfield three of Modric, Rakitic and Brozovic to get the ball ahead quickly when Croatia attacked.
The Real Madrid and Barcelona stars in particular were able to send in good deliveries as England was pinned back and their ability to play out from the back was greatly curtailed.
Even Harry Kane had to drop back into midfield to try and win the ball back. Croatia asserted their dominance in the midfield and eventually fully turned the tables around in extra-time.
#3 Croatia capitalise on England's lapse in concentration
The Croats were caught out at the back a few times in the first-half and were lucky to have been only one down at the break.
Harry Kane missed the most glorious chance of the period when he shot against the post from near the byline with Subasic beaten, a little more composure in the moment could've scripted a different tale.
But when The Blazers were handed such chances, they took it with elan. Their dominance began to show when they came close on numerous occasions after the interval, and it was Pickford's brilliance that pushed things out of harm's way.
But he could do nothing when Perisic beat Walker for the equaliser. The Manchester City star didn't track Perisic's run from behind and rather than trying to stick his feet out and slam it away, thrust himself in the air in a meek attempt to head the ball. The Inter Milan hitman stole clear of him in that moment and killed the move.
However, the worse was to come in the second period of extra time when English back-line switched off again and Mandzukic sounded the death knell. Perisic headed the ball back into the box and Mandzukic raced clear of his markers to shoot from close range.
Walker was found out as he was a step or two ahead of his position while Stones was a second too late to react. Before the English defense could react, the Juventus star had already done the damage.
