YOU DID US PROUD
Brave Lions so close to final glory
ENGLAND’S brave young lions’ World Cup dreams ended last night in an extra-time semi-final defeat to Croatia.
Players collapsed on the pitch of Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium after Mario Mandzukic’s 108th-minute strike ended the lads’ charge to their first final since 1966.
They lost 2-1 but will fly home heroes. And they still have the chance to land the nation’s second best World Cup finish when they play Belgium in Saturday’s third-fourth place match.
And striker Harry Kane is almost certain to win the Golden Boot as the Russia tournament’s highest scorer.
But they missed out on the chance to end 52 years of hurt by emulating our only World Cup win.
It was so close – at one point England were just 23 minutes from the final after Kieran Trippier curled home a free-kick in just the fifth minute.
The goal sent 10,000 Three Lions’ fans in the stadium and 30m watching on TV back home wild as pints flew in the nation’s 40,000 pubs.
Groans
England had chances to add to their lead. Harry Kane was denied by a great save by keeper Danijel Subac-ic, then hit the post on the follow-up.
In the second half Croatia pressed and Kyle Walker prevented an equaliser by blocking a thunderbolt from Ivan Perisic with his manhood before heading away the rebound.
Moments later in the 68th minute Perisic broke England’s hearts by volleying home the equaliser.
The 78,011 crowd greeted the 1-1 fulltime score with nervous groans as England’s entire squad embarked on a mass hug on the pitch.
Croatia took control in extra time but the team were powerless to stop Mandzukic powering home.
They will now play their first ever World Cup Final against France in Moscow on Sunday.
Before kick-off England and Croatian fans drank, danced and sang together in Moscow’s Red Square.
Around 4m watched in pubs while 30,000 saw the game on a big screen in Hyde Park and 10,000 attended similar events in Manchester and Liverpool.
The game became most-watched sporting event since 32.3m tuned in to see the ’66 final.
Six million workers are expected to call in sick today due to hangovers, and school teachers expect “Red-eye Thursday” after bleary-eyed children staying up hours past their bedtime.