HT Croatia 0 – 1 England #WorldCup And that’s that for the first half! In which Kieran Trippier has put England 45 minutes away from their second World Cup final! You’ll be back for the second half, right?
ENGLAND LEAD INSIDE 5 minutes. Alli earns a freekick right on top of the box. Modric fouls the England midfielder from behind. After much discussion, Trippier takes the freekick and the wingback hits the top right corner. Superb shot. England’s set-piece run continues. 9 goals and counting from dead ball situations.
England bullying Croatia. Maguire has a chance from a corner but the defender can’t control his header. Croatia struggling to keep hold of the ball. Perisic has a pop at goal from distance. Misses Pickford’s near post. The English keeper had it covered though.
Kane misses a golden opportunity. He is played in by Lingaard and with just Subasic to beat, he opens his body and looks to roll it past the keeper. But the keeper makes the save. The English captain has a second attempt but is denied by the post. At the other end, Rebic gets a shot on target (straight at Pickford).
Ashley Young makes a timely tackle. Perisic sends in an early cross on the run and just as Rakitic lines up his shot the Man United full backslides in and toe-pokes the ball away.
England has held on to the lead that Trippier secured after 4 minutes and 44 seconds with a sumptuous freekick. Harry Kane missed a chance to double the lead from close range as Subasic made a crucial save.
Southgate’s master plan of losing to Belgium in the final group game has the Three Lions within touching distance of a place in the final. After sloppy Sweden in the previous round, England has largely looked comfortable against a leggy Croatian team that has been reduced to shots from distance and early crosses that have hardly threatened.
Source: News365coza
