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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.

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England manager Gareth Southgate on June 2, 2018
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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