Madzukic left it late in extra-time, to end the English hopes of winning the World Cup and kept the Croatian dream alive and a France hurdle to cross in the final.
It was a nerve-racking game of two halves. England enjoyed the first, created as many chances and buried one. Croatia enjoyed the second, equalized and fluffed as many chances. And when the game went to the wire, the men with character stood up to be counted. It was the steely Croats.
The game never lacked anything football had to offer and when referee CAKIR Cuneyt whistled for the end of the match after 120 minutes of football, it was England who will be going home without the trophy after bottling an early lead in the first half.
In Becham style, Kieran Trippier set the English to a flying start with his beautiful free-kick, too magnificent for a defender and it was just five minutes into play.
Trippier curled the ball over the wall, after Dele had been tripped just on the edge and left Subasic ball watching.
It was England in front and they should have added more. A horrible piece of defending in the 21st minute gifted Sterling an opportunity to increase the tally but the City man chose to be selfless at the wrong time when he picked up Kane who was clearly in an offside position.
Raheem Sterling was the tormentor in chief for the Croats, using his pace and trickery to perfection and causing too much problems for Vida to handle.
And while England had little to show for possession, the chances they created and missed were one too many. Harry Kane of all players had only Subasic to beat but in a one-on-one occasion but he fired feebly onto the path of the goalkeeper and when the ball fell to him on a rebound, Kane contrived to miss at the foot of the post. Even though he was later flagged offside the Tottenham man knew he needed to score with the hope that VAR will rule in his favour. Replays suggest that would have stood should he have scored. But he didn't.
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