England conceded by sitting deep

Three minutes had passed in the first half of extra time when Croatia left-back Ivan Strinic went down on the field clutching his leg. A minute later, he limped off, unable to continue in what would end up as a stunning 2-1 win for his side at the Luzhniki Stadium here on Wednesday.

Strinc was replaced by Josip Pivaric immediately. As strange as it may sound, it was Croatia’s first substitution in the game. Prior to this match, there had been a lot of talk about fatigue setting in for a team that had been involved in two exhausting knockout games over the last week, with both going into penalty shootouts.

This was the third straight game to enter extra-time. Yet, Croatia controlled proceedings and the supposedly fresher England side failed to get a sniff at the opposition goal as they looked for a second goal in extra time.

“What the players did today the strength they have shown, the stamina, the energy, was incredible. I wanted to make substitutions but wanted to be subbed.

“I have to tip my hat to our doctors and medical staff. Some players played with minor injuries. Two played with half a leg. Nobody wanted to say ‘I am not ready’. In extra time, no one wanted to come off,” coach Zlatko Dalic told reporters after the game.

SUBDUED START

Yet, when the game began with a sizeable English presence in the stands on Wednesday evening, Croatia did look subdued. England’s dream start to the game, with Kieran Trippier scoring off a free kick in the fifth minute, saw them carry the momentum to the rest of the half.

Both Harry Maguire and Harry Kane found themselves at the end of scoring opportunities but a second goal didn’t come.

Then in the second half, Ivan Perisic sprang to life. With Croatia starting to grow into the game, the Inter Milan midfielder found an equaliser in the 68th minute when he lifted his leg over marker Kyle Walker to

MOSCOW:

Pretty to pedestrian, classy to clumsy --- that was how the semi-finals were going; France had cruised past Belgium and England seemed to be lumbering to the final. But in a World Cup full of wonderful surprises, it was appropriate that Croatia turned things around just when it seemed football had taken another step to going ‘home’.

Not in recent times have England got such an opportunity to be in a World Cup final. A superbly struck early goal was exactly what they need against a Croatia team that was weary in mind and body.

Another goal before half-time and I think Croatia would have been overrun. The early signs were all there: Croatia players were often on their haunches, there were mispasses and they were yielding the midfield easily.

England did have chances to put the game to bed but couldn’t On England’s tactics

even though no team parks the bus against them.

Like against Colombia, England then tried to defend a one-goal lead instead of trying to keep the ball. Maybe this happened because neither the coach nor the team has enough tournament experience. Gareth Southgate has done wonders with this team, but with the wisdom of hindsight, he could have got Marcus Rashford earlier.

TACTICS GONE WRONG

Things could also have got interesting if Southgate had played Rashford and Sterling together and taken out, say, Dele Alli, who was busier with On Croatia’s equaliser

defensive duties than helping the team go forward. It would have been a gamble but would have been worth a try because Croatia were so much stronger in the second half and England had no answers.

As Croatia kept England’s wing-backs occupied, the absence of a playmaker became more evident than it was in the World Cup so far. Harry Kane did try to play in a deeper role but after Croatia equalised, England were hoofing the ball and hoping for the best.

Ivan Perisic’s goal could have been flagged down for dangerous play but it wasn’t perhaps because he struck it cleanly and there was no contact with the England player. Nothing lifts a tired team’s spirit more than a goal and then it was England who looked like they didn’t have the legs.

That said, this is a good, young team with players comfortable on the ball and a coach who has got them to believe. England should stick with Southgate and in a couple of years this team should use the experience of this World Cup to do well in the Euros. Like France, who matured after a quarter-finals exit in 2014 World Cup. And they are the under-17 and under-20 world champions, so something right is happening at the English FA.

France have been my favourites before the World Cup started and one of the reasons for that is how well drilled they are as a defensive unit. How Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud defend is as important as their contribution up the pitch. France were also not intimidated by Belgium’s physical presence and choked the supply line to Romelu Lukaku. Teams that defend this comfortably usually win championships.

Things could also have got interesting if Southgate had played Rashford and Sterling together and taken out, say, Dele Alli. Ivan Perisic’s goal could have been flagged down for dangerous play but it wasn’t perhaps because he struck it cleanly.