MX23RW : Friday, November 22 06:17:34| >> :120:22216:22216:
[monks data]
Attendance: 78,011
Croatia national football team
World Cup | Semi-Finals
Jul 11, 2018 at 7pm UK
 
England national football team

2-1

Perisic (68'), Mandzukic (109')
FT
(aet)

Gareth Southgate: 'Croatia toughest test yet for England players'

Gareth Southgate admits that Croatia "will be the best team" England have faced in this summer's World Cup, with a place in the final up for grabs.

England manager Gareth Southgate has acknowledged that his side face their toughest World Cup test yet when taking on Croatia for a place in the final.

The Three Lions have so far defeated Colombia on penalties after a 1-1 draw and eased to a 2-0 win over Sweden in their two knockout matches.

Southgate's men have also seen off Tunisia and Panama in the group stage, while suffering defeat to Belgium with a second-string side, and the England boss is expecting an increase in quality this evening.

"They'll be the best team we've played in terms of what they're capable of doing with the ball, and what their individuals are capable of, definitely," he told reporters.

"For us as a team, it's another chance to create a small piece of history. We've got to keep getting over those hurdles and I know we talked about the success of the younger teams but this is a much harder, much bigger level for the players and the belief is building as things are happening.

"The more of these tests we can come through, the better, not just for now, but moving forward."

England have met Croatia once before at a major tournament, winning 4-2 in a group-stage match at Euro 2004.

ID:330352: cacheID:330352:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2553:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
England manager Gareth Southgate on June 2, 2018
Read Next:
How England could line up against Croatia
>
Read more about Gareth Southgate Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Steelers
@
Browns
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!