Well after a quite stunning quarter final Croatia managed to overcome a Russian side that just would not lie down and die despite what many, including even some Russian fans, saw as obvious shortcomings of the team.
On the upside Croatia have now had two hard struggles running to extra time and penalties in a week and on top of that they aren’t Russia and so won’t have an entire country of support right behind them on every street corner, in fact there could be a good amount of Russian support behind England now.
On the downside Croatia are rather useful and certainly the sternest test England’s first team will have faced so far. In Modric and Rakitic that have the sort of key players that can make life very difficult indeed and certainly this is going to need a lot of careful thought and planning about how to get organised.
Historically England have won 5 and lost 3 of 8 competitive games against Croatia, or their former incarnation Yugoslavia. They have never played a competitive World Cup finals game against each other.
I believe Croatia will have no suspensions despite picking up 4 bookings so will have a full squad. But then England are in the same boat.
So this is the game that makes or breaks it. Lose and. It will always be a case of “what if” as there will never be a better opportunity to make a final of anything at international level. Win and it’s something very special indeed and the dream will continue to the very end.
Either way still two games to play for England.
