World Cup preview: Croatia v England

Wednesday brings an opportunity for Croatia to reach their first ever World Cup final and for Gareth Southgate’s England to make a huge step towards ensuring that football 'comes home'.

1900 BST Croatia v England (ITV)

Croatia last reached the semi-finals at the 1998 tournament but after enduring 120 minutes of football plus penalty shootouts for two matches in a row, Zlatko Dalic’s regular starting 11 may well be too exhausted to make it further.

Impressive Atletico Madrid right-back Sime Vrsaljko is unlikely to start the match after injuring his knee against Russia, while goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, after heroics in two penalty shootouts, could also miss the match with a hamstring niggle.

Aside from fatigue, the Croats look likely to be a sterner test than England have faced so far in the competition, even though they have slowed down since putting in some imperious performances in their group stage matches.

The Balkan nation’s midfield is particularly impressive, with Real Madrid’s Luka Modrić and Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitić being standout performers. Up-front, veteran striker Mario Mandžukić has failed to play his best football thus far but is always a danger when flanked by pacey wingers Ivan Perišić and Ante Rebić.

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic said: "We respect everyone - England, Belgium, France. But none of the three squads is better than us!"

England’s surprise dream run through the competition continues and, although public 'celebrations' have included trashing ambulances and cars, most of the country will happy that coach Gareth Southgate is remaining calm and focused on the on-pitch drama.

"As I have got older, I have become more conscious that it is easy to avoid challenges and avoid putting yourself on the line. But in the end you will never know the possibilities of great success or great moments like we have had in the last few weeks," said Southgate in the pre-match build-up.

Southgate’s squad are at the other end of the injury scale to Croatia, with all 23 players available for selection after Jamie Vardy recovered from the groin strain that forced him to sit out the quarter-final against Sweden.

The side come into the match after an assured and confident victory in the last round and will likely not make any changes to what has emerged as a clear first-choice starting line-up.

After playing a slew of defensive sides in Tunisia, Panama, Colombia and Sweden, Southgate’s side are likely to come across a more open match against Croatia which could allow Ashley Young and Kieran Trippier more opportunities to wreak havoc with their crossing abilities.

It will also mean the three-man defence of John Stones, Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire will likely face greater pressure than they have at any other point in the competition so far.

The Three Lions have an unhappy tournament history with Croatia, who ended England’s chances of making the Euro 2008 competition and hastening the demise of Steve McClaren’s England managerial career.

Beating Zlatko Dalic’s side will achieve what very few people predicted pre-tournament and send England through to their first World Cup final since they won the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966.