Live updates as Croatia and England meet at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow with a place in the World Cup final at stake. We'll be brining you all the action and reaction as it happens.
11 July 2018
So, after 62 games, we now know the two teams who will battle it out for the World Cup on July 15 at Luzhniki.
France, winners in 1998, will take on Croatia, first-time finalists.
Be sure to join us for all the action for that game.
In the meantime, we have the third-place playoff between England and Belgium in St. Petersburg on Saturday.
For a full match report on today's proceedings in Moscow, click here.
Goodnight.
An impressive display in the end from Croatia to wrestle the game away from England. It wasn't always pretty, but you have to admire their fighting spirit. They've played three consecutive games with extra time, and prevailed each time - today without penalties.
They've got grit and resilience in abundance, which has earned them a final spot against France on Sunday.
Croatia 2-1 England (AET)
England waste the free-kick, Croatia clear, the referee blows his whistle.
Croatia, a nation of just 4 million people, are into the World Cup final for the first time.
CROATIA ARE INTO THE WORLD CUP FINAL!
England with a free-kick around 35 yards out after a Croatian hand ball. Rashford is over it...
Just two minutes left on the clock here. Croatia with the ball in the England half - exactly where they want it.
4 mins of added time at Luzhniki to rescue the game. We've seen some remarkable things at this World Cup, if England could rescue this, it would be one of them.
Croatia with their final change, playmaker Modric off, not at his most influential today but kept things ticking over. Badelj is the man on.
Trippier definitely can't continue. England down to 10 men as we enter the last 5 minutes of extra time.
Croatia make a change, goalscorer Mandzukic is off, defender Vedran Corluka is on. Trippier is off the pitch and is struggling, might not be able to continue.
114 mins: Croatia keeping the ball with ease at the moment. England looking like a broken side.
Anguish on the faces of the England fans at Luzhniki. For Croatia, a first-ever World Cup final is within touching distance.
Southgate going for it now, Jamie Vardy comes on for Kyle Walker. England with about nine minutes to rescue the game.
England switched off at the back for a split second there and paid for it. Perisic won the flick-on first, Stones was slower to react and Juventus frontman Mandzukic was there to finish.
Mario Mandzukic nets for Croatia!
Perisic flicks on the ball, Mandzukic nips in behind Stones and fires the ball low past Pickford. Croatia in front with just over 10 minutes to play here.
GOAL! Croatia 2-1 England
We're back underway in Moscow for the second half of extra time.
England boss Gareth Southgate dispensing intense intructions a his mean huddle around at the break. Croatia form a huddle of their own, ending with a war cry as they go back into battle for the second half of extra time.
Mandzukic needs a bit of the magic spray after colliding with Pickford following that save. The corner comes to nothing though and the referee blows for the end of the first period of extra time.
107 mins: Close! Pickford dives at full stretch at the feet of Mandzukic to divert the ball over from just two yards out. Croatia finshing this period strongly.
2 minutes added on at the end of the first period of extra time.
England looking a lot more composed in extra time, they've recovered a little bit of poise since the break after full time.
Another change for Croatia as Ante Rebic makes way for Andrej Kramaric, who scored against Russia in the last round.
CLOSE! Cleared off the goalline by Vrsaljko for Croatia as John Stones heads the corner goalwards! Big chance for England there, Stones was unmarked.
98 mins: Dier into the action right away as his shot from range is deflected over for an England corner.
96 mins: England with a free-kick from about 35 yards out, central. Lofted in to Maguire at the back post, but it's cleared. The England defender was penalised for some pushing anyway.
England then make their latest change, Eric Dier coming on for Jordan Henderson.
Strinic makes his own way off without the aid of a stretcher, but he needs to be replaced, with Josip Pivaric coming on. Croatia's first change of the game.
93 mins: Strinic is down with what looks like a groin injury. Looking like he can't continue. Perisic calling for a stretcher for his teammate.
We're underway in Moscow for the first period of extra time. England make a change with Danny Rose coming on for Ashley Young at left-back.
How are your nerves, England and Croatia fans?
Stats from the 90 mins
So Croatia head into what will be their third set of extra time after both previous knockout games against Denmark and Russia went the full 90 minutes. Both those games ended up going to penalties.
England's last 16 game against Colombia also went to a shootout, but they overcame Sweden in normal time in the quarter-finals. Will they be slightly fresher? There wasn't much indication of that during the 90 minutes.
Some people are watching the match from behind the sofa. Not RT's Stan Collymore, though.
Croatia 1-1 England. The whistle blows for the end of the 90 minutes. We're into extra time in Moscow. Hold onto your hats.
Kane rises highest from the cross, but heads his effort downwards, into the ground, and wide of the goal. Extra time beckons.
England win a free-kick after Rakitic takes out Rashford, edge of the box on the right, Trippier standing over it...
3 minutes of added time here in Moscow.
90 mins: Croatia still pressing as we approach the end of normal time. England all behind the ball until Dejan Lovren fires wastefully over from miles out. What's the center half doing shooting from there?
87 mins: Croatia are looking the sprightlier of the two teams in the closing stages, despite having played extra time in both their knockout games so far.
More drama for England as Pickford comes to punch clear but makes poor contact and is left stranded, but Croatia fail to turn the ball home.
England have gone from looking stable at the back in the first half to a bit of a shambles now.
83 mins: Mandzukic draws a stop from Pickford as he collects the ball on his chest and fires off a volley from about 10 yards, but it's straight at the England stopper.
England are really living dangerously with some of their passing at the back. It's pinging about with little control, with Pickford lashing clear as the latest scare is averted.
80 mins: Dele Alli looks to play in Marcus Rashford, but the England youngster can't quite collect the ball and it runs out for a goalkick. Into the last 10 mins at Luzhniki.
77 mins: Chance for England! Jesse Lingard flashes a shot wide of the left upright. It's actually going well wide, but it's the best England have fashioned in the last few minutes.
England pinned back in their own half at the moment, Croatia coming on very strongly as they look for the winner.
75 mins: Approaching the last quarter of an hour of normal time here. England have steadied the ship slightly, but Croatia looking much the stronger.
England making their first change, Raheem Sterling off, Marcus Rashford on.
Off the post! Perisic hits the upright for Croatia after a mix up at the back sees the ball to fall to the Croatia man, but he can't steer it home and the ball bounces back into Pickford's hands. England rocking here.
Ivan Perisic equalizes for Croatia after getting in front of Kyle Walker from a cross and poking the ball past Pickford.
Walker was stooping low to attempt to clear, Perisic got in there with his boot first. Goal timed on 68 minutes.
GOAL! Croatia 1-1 England
65 mins: Chances in quick sucession for Croatia there as Kyle Walker first blocks a drive from Perisic before England scramble clear.
Walker stays down after taking the ball in what appeared to be a particularly sensitive area, but he seems OK to continue now.
Viewing the penalty shout again, looked like there was nothing in it, referee right to wave play on.
63 mins: Steling goes down in the box, looked like slight contact from Vida, but the referee waves play on....
59 mins: Croatia win a corner, Modric whips in a dangerous-looking ball, but Pickford comes to punch clear.
57 mins: Dejan Lovren clears from the head of Harry Kane just as the England striker is set to turn home a lovely volleyed cross from Kieran Trippier. Great defending from the Liverpool center-back to deny Kane there.
54 mins: Yellow card for Kyle Walker as the England defender appears to hold up play when Croatia are looking to take a quick throw-in.
That earlier yellow card looks like it's been transferred to Mario Mandzukic - it must have been the big Juventus frontman at fault for the foul on Walker. Some confusion over that at first.
50 mins: Walker shepherds the ball out for a goalkick under pressure from Rebic. Even opening to the second half in Moscow.
48 mins: First yellow card of the game goes to Croatia's Ante Rebic as he leads with his arm into the face of Kyle Walker when challenging for a header.
Second half: Croatia get us underway for the second period in Moscow. No changes for either side at the break.
The Archbishop of York with some oddly specific encouragement for the England players.
ENGLAND 45 MINUTES AWAY?
Only once in the last 18 World Cup semi-finals has the team leading at half-time gone on to lose the game.
England and Croatia have got a massive 45 minutes coming up. They're back on the pitch, resumption of play coming shortly..
FIRST-HALF STAT ATTACK
Things pretty even on the stat front, apart from the all-important scoreline, of course...
Half-time: Croatia 0-1 England
England head in 1-0 to the good at the break in Moscow.
Aside from that glorious Trippier free-kick on five minutes, it was a half low on quality with neither side really looking composed. Still, an intriguing encounter.
45 mins: England sloppy in possession at the back and almost let in Rakitic, but he gets muscled out by Walker. If England are going to play the possession game, they need to be more assured with their passing.
43 mins: Croatia defender Domagoj Vida getting booed by sections of the Luzhniki crowd when he touches the ball.
He was involved in a controversial video clip after the win agsinst Russia, in which he was heard shouting "glory to Ukraine." Read more on that here.
41 mins: Ante Rebic avoids a booking from Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir despite scything down Ashlyy Young from behind near the touchline. The ref has let a fair bit go so far.
40 mins: Croatia shading the possession 52%-48% so far. Both teams with four shots on goal, one each on target. England made theirs count.
37 mins: Trippier flashes the ball across the Croatian box, but it's nowhere near an English head. Both teams lacking a bit of composure on the ball at the moment.
36 mins: Chance for England! Dele Alli finds Jesse Lingard in space of the edge of the box, he takes a touch, but curls the ball weakly past the upright. Should have at least hit the target there.
34 mins: Croatia starting to show more threat here as Jordan Pickford makes a smart stop from Ante Rebic.
30 mins: How did that stay out! Harry Kane is played in, tries to side-foot past Subasic, who saves, it comes back to Kane at an acute angle, he fires off another shot which Subasic tips onto the post, and the ball bounces clear!
After all that he was flagged offisde anyway - but looked marginal.
27 mins: England with a dangerous free-kick on the left, Young swings the ball in but Subasic comes out to punch clear. Croatia asking for trouble if they continue to concede too many free-kicks around the box.
He was there at the Belgium-France match last night, but one of the few people in the audience who must have first-hand memories of 1966 has made his loyalties known.
25 mins: England are looking sharp on the break, using the pace of Sterling to stretch the Croatian backline. Croatia not quite got their passing game going yet as Rebic hits a stray cross into the waiting hands of Pickford.
21 mins: Croatia with a big let-off at the back. Sloppy play allows Sterling to nick the ball, he plays in Kane who shoots wide from about 10 yards out. The England striker was flagged offside, but it was careless from the Croats (and you'd expect Kane to slot those home as well).
20 mins: Ante Rebic bobs and weaves on the edge of the England box, but gets crowded out by the England defence. Dejan Lovren then charges into Harry Kane as England looking to break. Wind taken out of Kane there.
19 mins: Ivan Persisic drags an effort wide for Croatia. Pickford made the dive but pulled his hand away at the last moment, always going wide.
Some in England are struggling to get a coherent tweet out with all the excitement.
17 mins: Croatia settling a bit better now, enjoying a spell on the ball. They've been behind in their last three World Cup games and have fought back each time.
TOTTENHAM BETTER THAN BARCA?
14 mins: England almost bag a second from a corner - again Harry Maguire is the danger man, rising to meet a header but it goes two yards wide. England the set piece masters so far.
12 mins: England with a corner, Ashley Young swings the ball in and Harry Maguire rises to meet it, but heads over. A free-kick was given for what looked like some shoving, but England showing their threat from set pieces.
9 mins: Croatia press from a corner, but England nick the ball and look to break through Raheem Sterling. The attack breaks down, but the Manchester City player's pace will be a key outlet for England tonight.
Kieran Trippier has been one of England's best players at this World Cup, and would make most people's team of the tournament so far.
That's the Tottenham Hotspur man's first goal for England - what a time to score it. A World Cup semi-final.
Perfect start for England in Moscow! Kieran Trippier curls a peach of a free-kick into the top corner! England ahead on 5 minutes!
GOAL! Croatia 0-1 England!
4 mins: England win a free-kick on the edge of the box as Modric bundles over Alli on the edge of the box....
Kick-off: We're underway in Moscow, England in white, Croatia in their changed strip of black and dark blue.
The anthems are done, the players have shaken hands, we're moments from kick-off in the second World Cup semi-final...
Just under 10 minutes to go until kick-off at Luzhniki, the fans are in full voice.
ROUTE TO THE FINAL FOUR – ENGLAND
England came out of their group with to wins from three games, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Belgium in their final group match in which manager Gareth Southgate fielded a much-changed team.
They overcame Colombia in a penalty shootout in the last 16 after the scores finished level at 1-1 following extra-time – the Three Lions’ first-ever shootout win at a World Cup.
Things were more comfortable in the quarter-finals, as they beat Sweden 2-0 thanks to headed goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli.
England have scored 11 goals in five games in Russia – eight of which have come from set pieces.
Striker Harry Kane leads the race for the Golden Boot on six strikes, three of which have been penalties. Southgate’s men have conceded four goals on their route to the last four.
ROUTE TO THE FINAL FOUR – CROATIA
Croatia are unbeaten at Russia 2018 with three wins and two draws from their five games.
They emerged from both of their knockout games on penalties – beating Denmark in the last 16 and Russia in the quarter-finals. They’re only the second team to win two shootouts at the same World Cup, after Argentina did the same at Italia ’90.
The Croatians emerged from their group with a perfect three wins from three, including a 3-0 demolition of Lionel Messi and Argentina.
They’ve scored 10 goals in Russia, conceding four.
LUZHNIKI
The atmosphere at Luzhniki Stadium is building ahead of the game, and RT Sport's Danny Armstrong recently tweeted these scenes of fans arriving.
For scenes of the fans taking over the center of Moscow earlier in the day, check out our story here. The number of England fans in particular was noticeably up on the sparser showing earlier in the tournament.
HEAD TO HEAD
England and Croatia have met seven times previously. The Three Lions lead the head to head with four wins to Croatia’s two, with the only draw coming in their first game in 1996.
The pair last met in World Cup qualifying in 2009, when England won 5-1 at Wembley.
That was a modicum of revenge for perhaps one of England’s most embarrassing escapades, when they failed to qualify for Euro 2008 after suffering a 2-3 home defeat to Croatia at Wembley in November 2007.
TEAM NEWS
We’ll start with some team news for you.
England have named an unchanged side from the one that beat Sweden in the quarter-final, meaning they line up with Pickford in goal, Walker, Stones and Maguire at the back, Young and Trippier as wingbacks, Henderson as a defensive midfielder, with Lingard and Alli sitting just in front, and Sterling and Kane up top.
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has made one change to the team that beat Russia on penalties in their quarter-final, with Marcelo Brozovic coming in to replace Andrej Kramaric.
Penalty shootout hero Subasic starts in goal, Vida and Lovren form a central defensive pairing, Strinic is on the left, and Vrsaljko on the right.
Rakitic and Brozovic will likely sit centrally and allow Perisic, Modric and Rebic to roam further forward, with Mandzukic leading the line.
WELCOME
So the long, long wait for England and Croatia is over.
Twenty-eight years since England’s last appearance at this stage of the World Cup, 20 years for the Croatians.
A historic night awaits for both countries, and we’ll find out soon enough which of them can seize their change to book a World Cup final spot against France back at Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday.
Stay with us for live updates as the action unfolds in Moscow…