We salute you

You’ve made us smile, made us proud, made us believe, every one of you a hero. No trophy this time but it feels like the start of something every Englishman could get used to. It was torture last night, it’s shattering this morning — but Gareth Southgate…

ENGLAND’S proud World Cup campaign came to a devastating end when Mario Mandzukic scored in extra time to send Croatia through to Sunday’s final against France.

Kieran Trippier’s stunning free-kick after five minutes gave Gareth Southgate’s men a dream start but Croatia took charge in the second half, equalising through Ivan Perisic after 68 minutes.

Mandzukic struck to win it in the 109th minute but England, who now face Belgium in the third/fourth place play-off on Saturday, have done the nation proud.

Captain Harry Kane said: ‘It hurts a lot but we can hold our heads up high.’