Croatia beats England to play World Cup final against France

Jubilant Croatian fans honked their car horns and let off fireworks while England fans sobbed and looked to the future with confidence after Mario Mandzukic’s extra-time winner took Croatia to its first World Cup final.

Mandzukic’s goal in Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium on Wednesday sealed Croatia’s spot in the final, surprising even some fans with the result, while dashing England fans’ once improbable dreams of a first World Cup final in more than 50 years.

“We had hoped [for this] and we believed in our team, but the feeling when we finally entered the finals cannot be compared to anything,” said Croatia fan Ivan Kecerin.

England, meanwhile, “blew our chances”, said 17-year-old Josh Ogunde after watching the 2-1 semi-final defeat with friends near Trafalgar Square in central London as the disappointed crowds streamed home.