The penultimate game of the 2018 World Cup certainly did not disappoint.
England and Croatia gave fans a spirited and emotional joy ride for 90 minutes, with England owning the first half and Croatia seizing momentum in the second.
After three minutes of stoppage time was added, the game was knotted up at 1-1. Ultimately, as we’ve seen so often during this World Cup in Russia, regulation time wasn’t enough.
Not sure I can do this… #CROENG #Eng pic.twitter.com/jzSgZfB5E5
— Ruth 🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@theoofoof) July 11, 2018
Halfway through extra time, and it remained all knotted up, thanks to a brilliant save by Jordan Pickford.
Save of the World Cup?https://t.co/qItOHtI2sF
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 11, 2018
It's still level after 15mins of extra-time…
How are your nerves, #ENG fans? #WorldCup #CROENG pic.twitter.com/v3BqETJMv8
— FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) July 11, 2018
Then Mario Mandzukic finally put the ball through the goal, beating Pickford with a brilliant goal to give Croatia the lead, 2-1.
Croatia makes it 2-1 in OT against Englandpic.twitter.com/p6CXWIycyJ
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) July 11, 2018
The biggest goal in Croatian history? #CROENG // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/cumCbcspcq
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 11, 2018
It's all too much for some England fans 😢 pic.twitter.com/ur9cSwaTmi
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 11, 2018
Adding insult to (literal) injury, Kieran Trippier, the hero of the first half for England, had to be taken off the field late in extra time, thus forcing Three Lions to play with just 10 men after having already made all four substitutions.
Now would be a great time for England to sub in Tua Tagovailoa. #WorldCup
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) July 11, 2018
In the end, Croatia just outlasted England, winning 2-1.
Congrats to Croatia 🇭🇷… but there’s only one way to deal with this heartbreak pic.twitter.com/iBvphidhR8
— trey wingo (@wingoz) July 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/RayH2K/status/1017145852564049920
🇭🇷 Croatia wins!!!
Croatia is the first team to come from behind and advance in three knockout games at a single #WorldCup.
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) July 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/brlive/status/1017146161382199297
CRO 2-1 #ENG (FT) #Russia2018 – Croatia #CRO is the SECOND least populous country to reach a World Cup final, just behind Uruguay.
I think Modric is one win away from being the new Golden Ball.
— MisterChip (English) (@MisterChiping) July 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/JohnMolinaro/status/1017146349102329856
England right now. pic.twitter.com/BXbmW7W5rJ
— Terry Blount 🌎 (@TBlountNews) July 11, 2018
Croatians celebrating. English slump to the turf.
A first shot at #worldcup glory for #CRo. For #eng, football’s not coming home pic.twitter.com/MFO2NfXLpJ— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) July 11, 2018
England fans checking to see if it's coming home pic.twitter.com/6pwd0G9Q0W
— Riley McAtee (@RileyMcAtee) July 11, 2018
Now the World Cup Final is all set, with Croatia set to meet up with France, who beat Belgium on Tuesday.