End of the World for England
Three Lions heartbreak after semi-final thriller
ENGLAND last night crashed out of the World Cup in a bitterly disappointing semifinal defeat to Croatia.
But they will still return to a heroes’ welcome after performances in a competition that banished many of the old demons surrounding the team.
Gareth Southgate’s young lions became the first to win a penalty shootout in a World Cup finals thanks to the last 16 victory over Colombia.
And they got to the first semifinal in 28 years with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Sweden.
The team’s direct, exciting brand of football has won over an army of critics more used to seeing them eliminated much earlier.
And they will now get another chance at Euro 2020.
Fans outside Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium told of their pride, despite the heartbreaking 2-1 loss. Ryan O’leary, 43, who brought his sons Thomas, 13, and eight-year-old Harry over to watch said: “What a devastating way to lose. “But the whole country can be so proud of the team. Gareth Southgate has changed the whole mentality around.
“There is a real sense of optimism among the fans now despite this defeat.”
Paul Cross, 50, from Gloucester added: “It as particularly galling to lose as we went in front and looked quite comfortable.
“But getting so close to a World Cup Final is an incredible achievement. There is so much to look forward to.”
Steve Trainor, 53, of Newcastle said: “This is no disgrace. They fought to the last and we were so Mick close. But Croatia would not give in.” Will Threlfall, 46, an IT consultant, flew his Blackburn Rovers flag among the 78,000-strong crowd. He travelled to Russia from Lancashire with company director Darryl Mankowski, 42, businessman Paul Addison, 46, and Sam Livesey, 45, a computer programmer. Will said: “After all the hurt, all those years, I have seen some right rubbish, let’s be honest. So many fans in Russia are lads in their 40s and 50s who have never seen anything like this.
“It has been unbelievable, and they have done the country proud.” Speaking about the penalty shootout against Colombia, he added: “We had
those doubts, but we have banished them here.
“Gareth Southgate was not the obvious choice when he got the England job and looked at what he has achieved.” Fan Colin Fawcett had been looking forward to quite a birthday if they won last night – he was born on July 15, 1966. The 51-year-old said: “Imagine that. I was two weeks old when we won first time around in 1966. I have had to wait another 52 years for another chance at that. They came in with no expectations and just look at them now.”
But Cocky Croatian fans claimed they had booked their place in Sunday’s final against France even before the game.
Kresimir Havranek, 42, a businessman from Zagreb, said: “We have about 20 to 25,000 supporters here, with the Russians there will probably be even more behind us.”
One his pals, in the country’s famous red and white checked top, added: “There is a joke doing the rounds in Croatia about the Englishman meeting the Frenchman at the World Cup. The Englishman says, ‘Hey, we are playing Croatia tonight,’ and the Frenchman replies, ‘So are we, on Sunday.”
But they were nearly left eating their words as Kieran Trippier got England off to a flying start with a brilliant free kick after just four minutes and 44 seconds with a curling 20-yard free kick straight into the top left corner.
He wheeled away to a rapturous reception as Football’s Coming Home rang out around the ground... but went off in tears injured in the second period of injury time.
England were cruising until the 64th minute when Ivan Perisic equalised. It took the match into extra time, where the second goal crushed their hopes. It appears England may have been struck by the “curse” of Sir Mick Jagger last night. The veteran rocker was in the crowd to witness the defeat.
He was filmed cheering them during the game in footage which he tweeted.
Wearing a dark cap and jacket, he was jumping and cheering, apparently celebrating our goal. But he was urged by some fans NOT to attend the game – as he has been dubbed a footy bad luck omen in the past.
Sir Mick was also in the crowd for France’s 1-0 victory over Belgium in St Petersburg on Tuesday night.
And Three Lions supporters reminded the 74-year-old that he was forced to defend himself against angry tirades on social media after he witnessed Germany’s 7-1 thrashing of Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.
The rocker was first dubbed a footballing jinx after watching USA lose to Ghana at the 2010 World Cup.
He then supported Brazil in the quarter-finals when they lost to the Netherlands.
And he turned up to England’s 4-1 defeat to Germany.