For another four years at least, it is not coming home. Mario Mandzukic made absolutely sure of that when he struck an extra-time winner to beat England 2-1 and book Croatia’s place in the World Cup final, with France lying in wait.
Kieran Trippier had given England an early lead with a sublime free-kick, but Ivan Perisic equalised in the second half before Mandzukic’s winner.
FIRST-HALF MOVEMENT
England’s pace and movement were key in pulling Croatia apart in the opening 45 minutes.
Starting with Harry Kane, the number nine has hardly been England’s furthest player forward at this World Cup and that was the case again as he regularly dropped deep to show for the ball.
Raheem Sterling was the one running beyond him, alert to any flicked headers from his captain. The Manchester City man once again worked extremely hard for the team and was integral to England’s efforts to stretch the Croatian defence.
The long ball into space for Sterling was always on, keeping centre-backs Domagoj Vida and Dejan Lovren on their toes and running them ragged. Meanwhile, Jesse Lingard also found himself operating beyond Kane as well.
The Tottenham striker would use his physique to receive the ball to feet before turning his man and running at the defence. He would then have forward runners on either side of him for options. However, England failed to capitalise on this strategy while it lasted in the first half with the final ball or finish lacking.
Raheem Sterling was a threat in the first half.
CROATIA SWITCH GEARS
The two sides that emerged for the second half were almost unrecognisable from those that played the first. Croatia were desperate not to leave it late and came out on the front foot.
England seemed to be caught off guard by their opponents’ raised tempo and retreated to the edge of their own half.
Zlatko Dalic’s side gleefully accepted the bulk of possession and the upper hand that came with it. Indeed, England only had 30 per cent of the ball in the second half.
Luka Modric barely had room to operate in the first half, while Marcelo Brozovic was largely bypassed and Ivan Rakitic was far too deep.
That all changed in the second period. As England backed off and invited Croatia onto them, the midfield trio were far more influential, taking up positions much higher up.
The equaliser had been coming with the Croats taking advantage of England’s retreat, eventually scoring from a cross.
From then on, the momentum was with Croatia and the Three Lions were rattled. They struggled in possession and after being breached, looked even more nervy on the ball.
John Stones’ sloppy pass at the back almost led to a second for Croatia while the likes of Lingard and Alli dropped further back, creating a huge gulf between midfield and attack, isolating the forward line.
Ivan Perisic makes England pay.
SOUTHGATE FALLS SHORT
The man who masterminded his young team’s run to the semi-finals, turned a nation’s pessimism into unchecked belief and inspired ‘Waistcoat Wednesday’ must be called into question. He’s shown himself to be tactically proficient at this World Cup and has conducted himself impeccably but wasn’t proactive enough on this occasion.
His substitutions with England chasing the game were strange. Sterling always looked like a threat in behind, but he was hooked for Marcus Rashford who failed to make an impact.
Lingard and Alli clearly got worse as the game went on but both remained on the pitch until the bitter end, while Henderson – who was most assured in possession – was replaced.
Meanwhile, Kane’s withdrawn positioning was increasingly bewildering. While he did drop off in the first half, he seemed to set up camp around the centre circle towards the end of the game.
He almost played like a holding midfielder at times, trying to feed balls through for the likes of Rashford and Alli.
Southgate deserves credit for an unprecedented semi-final berth, but he must shoulder the bulk of the blame for this defeat.
Gareth Southgate did not have the right answers.
