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| Harry Kane is uncontested as the top scorer in the World Cup so far with 6 goals (averaging one every 61 minutes). |
Their routes to the Semi-Finals
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| The midfield duo of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic have been instrumental in Croatia's magnificent run to only their World Cup Semi-Final. |
It's been a real test of determination, togetherness and character for England on their route to the Semi-Finals. The group stage started with what could have been another typical England result in the World Cup, until Harry Kane headed home in stoppage time to defeat Tunisia 2-1. The belief in this team set in for me when we put Panama to the sword and hammered them 6-1, the first time I've ever seen an England team be ruthless and clinical on the big stage. Losing the battle of the B teams didn't really have too much of an effect on us. Sure it would have been nice to beat Belgium, but it handed us a more favourable route which we've well and truly taken advantage of. Colombia in the Round of 16 was the biggest mental test of this squad. Conceding in the last minute to send the game to extra time, we look frazzled for long periods of Extra-Time but I can finally say, WE WON A PENALTY SHOOTOUT!!! That was such a vital victory for the mental state of the squad, that worry of not being able to win a penalty shootout is well and truly gone now, there is no longer anything to fear. Up against a defensive Sweden side in the Quarter-Finals, we were well organised, patient in our build up play and yet again took advantage of set-pieces as Maguire headed us ahead before Alli bagged the second to make it a relatively comfortable scoreline, however, we've been saved continuously by Jordan Pickford in the knockout stages.
Croatia looked unstoppable in the group stages as with relative ease, they managed to pick up 9/9 points. They started the tournament with a bang, outclassing Nigeria before their most impressive game of the tournament so far when they put Argentina to the sword, hammering them in every department, keeping Messi quiet and comfortably winning 3-0. They finished the group with a 2-1 victory over Iceland to secure the number one spot in the group. However, the knockout stages have really tested this team and shown some clear weaknesses defensively. Gifting cheap goals against both Denmark and Russia, drawing 1-1 and 2-2 respectively, before managing to get past both courtesy of penalties, where Subasic has proved to have been a hero for them.
How will both sides approach the game?
On the England side of things, I'm expecting the same line-up. Even with Sterling's lack of contribution with the ball at his feet, he's made the right runs to stretch the defence and been a constant distraction for the opposition's defence, if he could actually score or pick up an assist, that would be brilliant, but it's clear to see why Southgate persists with him as his work rate suits the system. The pressing from Sterling, Lingard and Kane in particular will prove to be vital again in making their lesser quality players have to rush passes therefore forcing them into mistakes. This game is a huge test of Alli and Lingard's discipline, it is vital that they recognise, that when one of them is higher up the pitch pressing the back line, the other needs to slot in alongside Henderson, who will no doubt need help with both Modric and Rakitic, if he's left isolated against those two, then he'll be chasing shadows all game. The wing-backs have been crucial all tournament for us, their link up play with the midfielders has been quality, they've got to be more disciplined with their runs tonight though, every time they commit to one, they've got to make it count. Trippier has been our best player throughout this tournament, his set pieces and crosses have been pinpoint on numerous occasions, and there's no doubt for me, he'll be the a main focal point of the attack tonight. Onto set pieces, we know it's what we've spent the most time working on throughout this World Cup and it's paid off, with them contributing to 8 of our 11 goals. Whilst we maintain a threat with them, we can't afford to be lazy defensively with them, got to make sure everyone marks their man and we don't make the mistake Russia did and not put a man on the post. Finally, there's a big emphasis on Harry Kane tonight playing like he did against Sweden, if he chases loose balls down the channels, holds the ball up allowing the runs in behind from Lingard, Sterling and Alli. He's shown great maturity in his performances so far, my one doubt with Kane was if he could be more than just a clinical finisher, especially in games when you come up against teams that park the bus but during this competition, he's shown massive improvement in his overall game. We've got to hold possession today, work the ball around them and make them chase us as much as possible, they're going to be tired after back to back penalty shootouts, so keep making them work hard pressing us and cracks will eventually start to show, and that's when we need to strike and be ruthless in getting a second goal too.
From the Croatian perspective, I expect to see them to sit back and soak up the pressure like they did against Argentina. They don't have the most quality in their team, however, this tournament has shown more than any other that individual win you nothing. They're going to be well drilled, disciplined and aim to bait us into throwing plenty of players forward in order to hit us on the break, especially if it's still level going into the second half. Attacking wise, it's evident that they're going to opt to get the little magician that is Luka Modric on the ball as much as possible because they know they can trust him to spot the runs of the likes of Perisic and Rakitic who can then deliver it into Mandzukic or go for goal themselves, because it's well known that their three most creative players all have a worldie in them. I expect their biggest threat is going to come from set pieces, as poorly as they've defended them at times in this tournament, they've looked quite threatening, especially with Modric and Rakitic delivering quality balls into the middle for Vida, Lovren and Mandzukic to attack.
Key Battles
Kane vs Lovren - This should be one of the biggest factors in the game tonight, last season Kane hammered Lovren who had a nightmare at Wembley when he made mistakes which enabled the lethal striker to bag a brace before he was subbed off after 30 minutes due to a dreadful performance. Then in February, he made a mistake gifting Kane a penalty so it's the striker who clearly has an advantage in the mental battle over the two. It's vital that Kane gets in Lovren's head straight away, draw a foul, take him on, anything to make him nervous about playing him again.
Maguire vs Mandzukic - Harry Maguire has become the nation's new hero throughout this World Cup, brilliant on social media, been a rock at the back and contributed with the opener against Sweden. He's showed his class and composure so far as part of the back three. This will be his biggest test yet against the big Croatian striker. Be fascinating to see these two up against each other on set pieces at either end. This is the ideal test for Maguire to prepare him for facing off against Giroud in the final.
Sterling vs Himself - Raheem Sterling has been the scapegoat throughout this World Cup in the England side, most of it is deserved because he doesn't do enough with the ball at his feet, which is frustrating when you see the season he had for Man City. He makes the right runs, he opens up space for teammates, he just needs a goal. As soon as he gets one, we'll see him at his best, it's just he can't have another game where he's not creating anything because you can't carry a passenger at this stage of the World Cup. If he loses the ball, he's got to keep his head up and stay composed, he's got the ability, just lacks the belief in himself for England.
England Predicted line-up: Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Ashley Young, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane.
Croatia Predicted line-up: Danijel Subasic, Sime Vrsaljko, Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Stranic, Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Ivan Rakitic, Ante Rebic, Mario Mandzukic.
Score Prediction - England 3-0 Croatia - Southgate has got me believing well and truly, there's a real togetherness in this side and I think it'll shine through tonight. There will be some nerves but if we can get that early goal, it'll be a fairly comfortable game for us. Sure there will be times when we're under pressure but as long as we stay compact, communicate and trust each other, we have every chance of seeing this game out comfortably. Wouldn't be surprised to see Trippier set up Kane with one of his crosses and then I can see us capitalising on a couple of set-pieces. The lads are already going to come home as hero's they've reignited everyone's passion in the national team, the challenge for them now is for them to come home as legends, as World Cup winners and I see no reason why they can't do that.
IT'S COMING HOME!!!!
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