Mark Ogden, Senior Football Writer – Page 2

Croatia survive England onslaught, thrive in extra time to reach World Cup final

Mario Mandzukic and Croatia completed their comeback in extra time, defeating England to advance to their first-ever World Cup final.

Football won’t be coming home to England as Croatia found their spark in the second half and Extra Time to down the Three Lions and move on to the final.

MOSCOW — Three quick thoughts from Croatia’s 2-1 extra-time win over England in the World Cup semifinals at Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday.

1. Tireless Croatia thrive in extra time

Croatia will face France in their first World Cup final on Sunday after overturning a 1-0 deficit to beat England 2-1 after extra time in the semifinal in Moscow. Goals by Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic, following Kieran Trippier’s fifth-minute opener, booked Croatia’s place in the final for a repeat of the 1998…

England camp’s darts matches, fun and relaxation fuels World Cup bid

They have a basketball court at England’s World Cup hotel in Repino, just up the coast from Saint Petersburg. They also have a driving

Premier League transfer clock is ticking: Where are all the big deals?

Manchester United posted a reminder on Instagram early on Monday morning, telling their supporters that the preseason tour of the United States is just seven days away.
In other words, on the day that several members of Jose Mourinho’s squad could be contesting the World Cup final in Moscow, those who didn’t make it to Russia will be jetting off to Los Angeles to begin their preparations for the 2018-19 season.
Domestic football seems to be on another planet right now, with the world still focused…

England’s Jordan Pickford unaffected by Thibaut Courtois criticism

With Croatia and England set to meet in the World Cup semifinals, the FC crew explain why the Three Lions will likely prove too much for Croatia.

Raheem Sterling fails to make the cut for Stewart Robson’s combined XI for England and Croatia, so who made it ahead of him?
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has insisted that he is unaffected by criticism from Belgium No. 1 Thibaut Courtois, claiming that his time in non-league football during six loan spells earlier in his career made him immune to off-the-field distractions.
Pickford, who had not made a competitive appearance for England prior to the World Cup, goes into Wednesday’s semifinal against Croatia in Moscow as one of the outstanding keepers of the tournament, following a series of impressive performances…

World Cup semifinals: Pressure on Belgium’s golden generation, England can outlast Croatia

The guys respond to your tweets about the challenge of penalties, Subasic’s heroics, England’s chances, the song ‘Three Lions’ and Roberto Martinez.
With the quarterfinals done and dusted, there are just four teams left standing at the 2018 World Cup.
Out of Belgium, France, England and Croatia, who will book their place in the final on July 15?
Belgium vs. France, Saint Petersburg
A game between two European neighbours, and arguably the two teams who have produced the most outstanding performances so far.
Belgium’s so-called golden generation have fallen short in recent tournaments, failing to deliver at the last two European Championships…

Gareth Southgate, new-look England have changed perceptions, captured the hearts of a nation

Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli and key saves from Jordan Pickford saw England defeat Sweden to reach their first World Cup semifinal since 1990.

ESPN FC’s Stewart Robson heaps praise on England’s Jordan Pickford and his three fine saves against Sweden.

Before England bounced Sweden, a hatful of ESPN FC correspondents weigh in on whether “it’s coming home” in the latest episode of Project Russia.
SAMARA, Russia — Gareth Southgate is now in miracle-worker territory. Not only has he guided England into a World Cup semifinal, becoming only the third manager to do so, he has also made the team likeable again.

Two years ago, after Roy Hodgson’s team were beaten by Iceland in the round of 16 at Euro 2016, England’s footballers were down there with politicians and estate agents when it came to the public’s affections.

Overpaid, overrated underperformers was the thrust of it. England supporters…

Gareth Southgate’s England rewriting history as Sweden loom in World Cup do-or-die

Kyle Edmund gives his prediction for England’s World Cup quarter-final vs. Sweden on Saturday.
To label Gareth Southgate’s young England team as “history boys” would perhaps be pushing it for a nation which does, after all, have a World Cup on its honours list.
You may have heard about 1966, when England won their one and only international competition. The English mention it an awful lot whenever a World Cup comes around, but it has become more of a burden than an inspiration in recent tournaments.
When the “Football’s Coming Home” song was penned in 1996, ahead of Euro 96, the key lyric…

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi still the benchmark – Harry Kane

Kyle Edmund gives his prediction for England’s World Cup quarter-final vs. Sweden on Saturday.
Harry Kane says Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain the benchmark for the world’s leading players, despite both being unable to inspire their countries to World Cup glory in Russia.
Messi’s Argentina and Ronaldo’s Portugal both crashed out of the tournament in the round of 16, with Argentina losing 4-3 to France and the Portuguese suffering a 2-1 defeat against Uruguay.
The failure of Messi and Ronaldo to haul their teams to success has coincided with a new wave of international talent, including…

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi finally have rivals for the Ballon d’Or

ESPN’s Dalton Cara captures the emotions of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose World Cup dreams ended on the same day.
MOSCOW, Russia — There has been a passing of the baton at Russia 2018. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain the greatest footballers in the world right now, but if this World Cup has shown us anything, it is that a new wave of superstars have broken through to claim their place at the summit of the global game.
Messi and Ronaldo both exited this tournament at the round of 16. They both had their moments of brilliance in which they stamped their mark on the World Cup — Ronaldo’s hat trick…

England’s penalty curse is over but they need to create more chances vs. Sweden

MOSCOW, Russia — English football is changing, and not only because the national team has finally managed to win a World Cup penalty shootout.
After three unsuccessful attempts — in Turin, St Etienne and Gelsenkirchen — England buried their penalty ghost at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium on Tuesday evening following a dramatic, energy-sapping, and bruising, 1-1 draw against Colombia.
It is likely to prove a transformative moment for England. The confidence and momentum that could be generated by such…

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