Mario Mandzukic has played for Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga, and Italy’s Serie A, but never England’s Premier League. After Wednesday’s Croatia-England World Cup semifinals, he may not ever be welcome in the Premier League. Croatia beat England 2-1 to advance to the World Cup Final against France, thanks to an extra time goal from Mandzukic in the 109th minute.
#MundialTelemundo Madzukic aprovecha un error de los centrales y hace estallar el estadio Luzhniki #CRO 2-1 #ENG pic.twitter.com/tzdhi1Gh6O
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 11, 2018
England got off to a fantastic start, taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute through a Kieran Trippier free kick.
#MundialTelemundo @trippier2 hace estallar a la afición de #ENG y así lo narró @sadovnik1965 #CRO 0-1 #ENG pic.twitter.com/yDlYubulJO
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 11, 2018
They nearly doubled their lead in the 30th minute, but Harry Kane couldn’t make the most of out a goalmouth scramble.
#MundialTelemundo ¿Pero cómo falló eso? @HKane deja ir el segundo gol de #ENG pic.twitter.com/qQLeyzVh6q
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 11, 2018
They held the lead at halftime, but didn’t seem to threaten much following that big chance.
Croatia was the much more threatening side in the second half, and eventually, Ivan Perisic knotted the match at 1 in the 68th minute after an incredible cross.
#MundialTelemundo Iván Perisic se anticipa a @kylewalker2 y hace soñar a #CRO con la final. pic.twitter.com/GMiRyD4fxl
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 11, 2018
Shortly after Perisic tied the match, he nearly gave Croatia the lead, but hit the post.
#MundialTelemundo Perisic estuvo a punto de aprovechar un error de la defensa y se salvó #ENG pic.twitter.com/B8KI5MmV68
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 11, 2018
We then moved into extra time, and Jordan Pickford saved on Mandzukic near the end of extra time’s first half, injuring the striker in the process.
#MundialTelemundo @JPickford1 salva a #ENG con una gran atajada ante Mandzukic pic.twitter.com/rcsrEf2Sja
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 11, 2018
But it was Mandzukic who would be the hero, scoring in the 109th minute after an England defensive miscue.
#MundialTelemundo Madzukic aprovecha un error de los centrales y hace estallar el estadio Luzhniki #CRO 2-1 #ENG pic.twitter.com/tzdhi1Gh6O
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 11, 2018
Croatia will now play in their first World Cup Final on Sunday against France, and they have a chance at winning their first-ever international trophy. Their previous best World Cup finish came in 1998 when Croatia placed third in their first World Cup following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The team that beat them in the semifinals? Naturally, France.
