CROATIA V ENGLAND

SEMI-FINAL

Where: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow Capacity: 80,000 When: Thursday, July 12, 2am ( Malaysia Time)

KEY STATS:

England are making their first World Cup semi-fi nal appearance since 1990, when they lost to Germany on penalties.

The Three Lions’ only international title is the 1966 World Cup victory on home soil.

Croatia, who became independent in the early 1990s, have reached the World Cup last four once before, in their debut World Cup appearance in 1998. They lost to hosts and eventual winners France.

Croatia topped their World Cup group in Russia with three wins out of three games, scoring seven goals and conceding just one. They are unbeaten so far in the tournament.

England fi nished second in their group, having lost their fi nal group match to Belgium.

Midfielder Luka Modric is Croatia’s top scorer in the tournament with two goals.

England forward Harry Kane, who tops the World Cup scorers’ list in Russia with six goals, is level with former striker Gary Lineker for most goals scored by an England player at one World Cup.

England have scored eight out of their 11 goals so far from set pieces including penalties.

England’s 11 goals so far are equal to the country’s record of most goals at a single World Cup set back in 1966, when they won the title.

Midfielder Jordan Henderson has not lost any of his last 30 England matches, the longest unbeaten run of any England player in history.

England needed penalties to beat Colombia in the Round of 16, but eased into the last four with a trouble-free 2- 0 victory over Sweden.

Despite a comfortable run through their group, Croatia has had a tougher ride in the knockout rounds, needing extra time and penalties to eliminate both Denmark in the round of 16 and then hosts Russia in the last four.

Previous meetings:

England and Croatia have never met at a World Cup, and only once met at an international tournament, when the English beat them 4-2 at Euro 2004

In total the two sides have played each other seven times, with England notching four wins to Croatia’s two. Their fi rst encounter, in 1996, ended in a goalless draw.