CROATIA VS. ENGLAND PREVIEW

A capsule look at Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal match between Croatia and England:

WHY CROATIA WILL WIN

A generation of players in their primes, or just past their primes, led by a strong midfield with Ivan Pericic (29), Ivan Rakatic (30) and Luka Modric (32), with Mario Mandzukic (32) heading the attack.

WHY ENGLAND WILL WIN

After falling short for generations, coach Gareth Southgate has put together a team that is playing like a team. Striker Harry Kane was the only standout heading into the tournament. Plus the Croats are coming off consecutive penalty-kick wins and figure to have to more tired legs.

PROJECTED LINEUPS

Croatia: 4-2-3-1 — Subasic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic; Rakitic, Modric; Rebic, Kamaric, Perisic; Mandzukic

England: 3-5-2 — Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Henderson, Trippier, Alli, Lingard, Young; Sterling, Kane

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Cuneyt Cakir of Turkey will referee his second straight World Cup semifinal match, after Argentina’s penalty-kick win over the Netherlands four years ago. Cakir worked Iran’s 1-0 win over Morocco and Argentina’s 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the group stage this year, and he refereed Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Juventus in the 2015 Champions League final.