England vs Croatia Start Time & Odds

But Raj Singh, a Canadian who supports England because he has relatives in Britain, said the team may have passed up their best opportunity in a lifetime to reach a World Cup final.

While Belgium beat favourites Brazil only to be unseated by France in the semi-final, England’s opponents were Colombia, Sweden and Croatia – not easy but unquestionably more manageable.

“I’ve got a amusing feeling that the momentum is so good, and, you know, especially now that we’re all going to turn up with special Gareth waistcoats, and that can only help can’t it”, said fan Lee Walkup, 50. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm”.

“They should have turned up, it’s the semi-final of a World Cup”.

Paul Sealey, who is visiting the area, said: “The team will do all in their power to win”. I think they’re the 13th different country to make a World Cup final.

But not everyone from Bournemouth will be rooting for Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson.

“It’s been an incredible run and I feel lucky to have been here for this match”.

England’s players, like the stars of the Italia 90 semi-final penalty shootout defeat to West Germany before them, now face a third place play-off against Belgium but it is unclear how many fans will remain behind to cheer them on to the very end. The man who had the honour of being knocked out by the collective weight of Croatia’s finest was Yuri Cortez who is the Chief Photographer at AFP Mexico.

Meanwhile, England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted he couldn’t listen to Three Lions for 20 years. “Then they suddenly realised that I was underneath them”, said Mexico City-based Cortez.

‘We’re still one of only three teams ever to get to a semi-final, and I think for all of the players and staff they have got to be proud of that.

The BBC says one of the two videos in which Vida appeared was posted online after Croatia beat host Russian Federation for the right to play in the semi-final against England. “I think France will win the title”. He said he that England would reach the final and that he expected the atmosphere in Croatia to be electric.

Southgate helped Ashley Young, at 33 the elder statesman of England’s side, to his feet while tears were shed by the youngster Marcus Rashford and many others.

Those three words, from the anthem Three Lions (Football’s Coming Home) by Baddiel and Skinner and the Lightning Seeds, have become the mantra of England. Experiences we’ve come through, that an inexperienced team have to go through to get better.

But Croatia spoiled the party at the 2018 World Cup semifinals. “That is wonderful, but I think it’s time we knock it off the number one spot with Three Lions”.