sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

England's Semi Final Will Be Against Croatia On Wednesday

England's Semi Final Will Be Against Croatia On Wednesday

Gareth Southgate's side will play their World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night with a chance to play either Belgium or France in the final.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

England now know their semi-final opponents after Saturday evening's game between Russia and Croatia went the way of Croatia on penalties.

July 4th 1990. The date of the last time an England's men's side played in a semi final of a World Cup. Fast forward just over 28 years and on Wednesday evening in Moscow they will play one again.

The Three Lions have only ever been in two semi-finals before. The first was against Portugal in 1966 when they went on to win the tournament, hosted in England, they had to wait 24 years till they reached the final four again.

Then in 1990 in Italy they beat Cameroon in extra time to head into another semi-final, this time they faced Germany and lost on penalties, the beginning of their long hoodoo from 12 yards.

Now, nearly 30 years on, they have another semi-final date. They had to get past Sweden first earlier on Saturday and Gareth Southgate's men controlled the match pretty much from start to finish.

Headers from Harry Maguire, from yet another set piece, and Dele Alli took England through to the semi but they had to wait to find out who they'd face.

Maguire heads home England's winner. Image: PA Images
Maguire heads home England's winner. Image: PA Images

It was going to be either hosts Russia or Croatia, who topped their group ahead of Argentina after demolishing Lionel Messi's side in the first round.

The game was hardly the most exciting 120 minutes of football, although it was still better than France vs Denmark, and the teams couldn't be separated in 'normal' time.

Denis Cheryshev scored a brilliant opener in the first half but just eight minutes later former Leicester City striker Andrej Kramarić headed the Croatians level.

Andrej Kramarić's goal against World Cup hosts, Russia.
PA

The second half gave us very little but Ivan Perisic looked certain to score when he shot from inside the area, the ball hit the inside of the post but somehow didn't go in.

Russia felt they should have had a penalty in the first half of extra time but the referee was right to turn down the appeals.

Just moments later and the visitors had a corner and then a goal as defender Domagoj Vida headed home from the set piece.

With just six minutes left of extra time Fernandes headed the hosts level from a free kick on the edge of the area after a handball and the game went to penalties.

In the last 16 Croatia had beaten Denmark on spot kicks and Russia beat Spain by the same method.

Subasic made yet another save from the spot, after three against Denmark, to open the shoot out after Fyodor Smolov tried to be too clever.

Akinfeev levelled things up at 1-1 when he dived the right way to keep out Kovacic after two penalties each.

But Fernandes, the man whose goal took it to pens, put the ball wide the very next spot kick. Akinfeev looked to have saved Luka Modric's penalty but it came back off the inside of the post and span back into the net in cruel manner.

Vida's penalty put Croatia on the verge of the semi but Daler Kuzyaev scored to make them have to score their final one to go through.

Rakitic then scored his second penalty shoot-out winner in two games.

After making the semi-final in 1998 in France the Croatians return to the last four, this time to face England.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, World Cup news, England, World Cup