Moscow (AFP) – A young and daring England made millions of fans believe the World Cup was “coming home” but old traits of failed campaigns returned at the wrong time to see a historic opportunity to reach a first World Cup final for 52 years slip away.
A long night in Moscow on Wednesday, that ended in a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Croatia after extra-time, could not have started better for the Three Lions.
Kieran Trippier curled home a fifth minute free-kick that would have made his idol David Beckham proud.
It was also the ninth of England’s 12 goals in Russia that came from a set-piece.
Dead balls were just part of meticulous attention to detail from manager Gareth Southgate and his backroom staff that had seen England surpass all expectations to reach the last four for the first time since 1990.
Ultimately, though, Southgate will reflect on what can be done to improve England’s creativity from open play to build on the progress of the past four weeks at Euro 2020, when the semi-finals and final will be played on home soil at Wembley.
The man England would have wanted to get a chance for once fluffed his lines when the tournament’s top scorer Harry Kane shot too close to Danijel Subasic and then fired the rebound off the post midway through the first half.
– Turning point –
That proved to be a turning point that will leave England fans wondering what might have been.
For the first 45 minutes, Croatia looked like an ageing side that had come through two lots of extra-time and penalties just to get to the semi-finals.
England’s campaign had been characterised by fearlessness and an ability to keep hold of possession, in such stark contrast to so many disappointing previous tournaments.
But finally the nerves seemed to take hold of Southgate’s young squad after the break.
Instead of attempting to kill the game off with a second goal, England retreated and allowed Croatia’s midfield ball players, Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Rakitic to wrestle control of the game.
Once Ivan Perisic acrobatically drew Croatia level 22 minutes from time, England’s inexperience started to show as rushed passes failed to find their target and only the post denied Perisic winning the game in 90 minutes.
The performances of Jordan Pickford in goal have been one of many positives for Southgate to take.
England tried the same strategy that France used to beat Belgium. Score an early goal and then play defense and forgo the offense. France succeeded but England failed. It’s a strategy that Italy has used for years in the World Cup. Belgium players are now complaining that France didn’t play “true” football. We don’t hear the same complaints about the English from Croatians who managed to defeat the same strategy.
Well it is a perspective,respetfull and interesting one to beat the adversary Belgium must score ant it didn’t happen, Crotia did it in overtime,but did England display a beautiful charming game it was not enough to beat the experience,and determination of the galvanic team,
I mean Balcanic