According to FIFA law, players are allowed to resume play if everyone from the opposing team is outside the lines of the pitch. England tried to take advantage of the rule.
England’s attempt to score while Croatia was celebrating
While Croatia’s players were celebrating Mario Mandzukic’s extra-time goal, England’s players were slowly jogging with the ball towards the centre circle. At one point, they realized all Croatian players were behind the white lines of the pitch, so three of them started running towards Subasic’s net. Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir stopped play, preventing them from going all the way. Who knows what would’ve happened if they’d scored since what the English players did isn’t forbidden.
Hrvati so blizu finala pic.twitter.com/vJMuRSLdYf
— Vlasta Jeseničnik (@VJesenicnik) July 11, 2018
Some people have called the move embarrassing and desperate, while others have called for clarification of the rule.
Mandzukic’s goal ended England’s World Cup title dreams, sending Croatia to the final for the first time in history. Kieran Tripper opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a wonderful free kick, at which point England’s exuberant fans rejoiced.
However, Southgate didn’t instruct his team to go for the dagger and score a second goal. Instead, his overly cautious tactics allowed Croatia to recover and eventually take control of the contest. In the 68th minute, Ivan Perisic took a chance by putting his leg where most players wouldn’t dare to do so and equalised the scoring. From that moment on, Croatia always looked closer to a second goal than England, although most people in the stadium probably anticipated another penalty session.
Mario Mandzukic, who already had a shot attempt saved by Jordan Pickford at the end of the first additional 15 minutes, got away from John Stones and scored the winning goal. He was barely walking but still managed to make a difference, showing the type of spirit which led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final.
In the meantime, England will rue its missed chance for days, if not weeks, since an opportunity like the one they had in Russia don’t come often.
