World Cup 2018: England vs Croatia – Goalkeeping howlers, hat-tricks and goals galore, the history of clashes between the countries
Three Lions face Croatia in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday and if past meeting between the sides are anything to go by the match in Moscow will be emotional
ENGLAND take on Croatia on Wednesday for a place in the World Cup final - and if history means anything we are in for a roller-coaster ride of emotions.
Gareth Southgate's side booked a place in the last four at Russia 2018 courtesy of a comfortable 2-0 win over Sweden.
And Croatia's penalty shoot-out win over host nation Russia has set up a meeting between the two sides for the eighth time.
Just one of the previous seven matches have ended in a draw - and the majority of matches have been full of goals, calamity and incidents that have gone down in folklore.
SunSport gives you the lowdown on the past clashes between the World Cup rivals.
England 0 Croatia 0 - April 24 1996 (friendly)
The first ever meeting between the two countries was a warm-up match as Terry Venables and his squad prepared for Euro 96.
But the Wembley crowd was treated to a drab affair, thanks in part to the defensive tactics adopted by Croatia and wastefulness in front of goal.
England 3 Croatia 1 0 August 20 2003 (friendly)
Played at Ipswich's Portman Road, the match marked the first international start for John Terry.
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David Beckham, who had just completed his move to Real Madrid, opened the scoring with an early penalty before crossing for Michael Owen to double the lead with a header.
Frank Lampard came off the bench to blast home the third from long range as England cruised to a comfortable win, despite the late consolation from Ivica Mornar.
Croatia 2 England 4 - June 21 2004 (Euro 2004)
Needing victory to ensure a place in the knockout stages, Sven Goran-Eriksson's side were inspired by the brilliance of Wayne Rooney in Lisbon.
Rooney's two goals and barnstorming display helped the Three Lions bounce back from going behind to an early goal to cruise home in style and book a quarter-final clash with Portugal.
Niko Kovac opened the scoring after just six minutes but Paul Scholes soon levelled and then Rooney's double put England in control.
An Igor Tudor effort gave Croatia hope, but Lampard eased any concerns with a fine strike as England produced one of the most emphatic performances under their Swedish coach.
Croatia 2 England 0 - October 11 2006 (Euro 2008 qualifying)
England stumbled to a damaging qualifying defeat in Zagreb most remembered for Paul Robinson's horror moment in goal.
Arsenal striker Eduardo had headed Croatia into 61st minute lead as Steve McClaren's gamble of switching to a three-man defence backfired in a big way.
And just eight minutes later, Gary Neville rolled a pass back to keeper Robinson, but just as he wound up to launch a clearance upfield the ball bobbled over his swinging foot and trundled into the back of the net.
England 2 Croatia 3 - November 21 2007 (Euro 2008 qualifying)
A dark night in English football history on the back of a horror mistake by keeper Scott Carson and the wally with the brolly.
Boss McClaren had dropped Robinson and Beckham to the bench, but Carson fumbled a soft Niko Kranjcar shot to gift Croatia the lead before Ivica Olic doubled the lead in front of a stunned Wembley crowd.
Lampard's penalty gave England hope and when Peter Crouch equalised the stage was set to go on and grab the win they needed to qualify for Euro 2008.
But Mladen Petric's long-range strike restored the Croatia lead, and McClaren spend the rest of the match shielding himself from the rain with an umbrella as his reign ended in failure.
Croatia 1 England 4 - September 10 2008 (World Cup 2010 qualifying)
Theo Walcott finally arrived as an England star with a brilliant hat-trick as the side produced one of the best displays under coach Fabio Capello.
The Italian had opted to start 19-year-old Walcott ahead of Beckham, and he repaid him in style with a impressive performance of pace and finishing.
Rooney also struck while Croatia were reduced to ten men when Robert Kovac elbowed Joe Cole as the home side imploded under the English onslaught.
England 5 Croatia 1 - September 9 2009 (World Cup 2010 qualifying)
The Three Lions cemented a place at the South Africa World Cup in devastating fashion as they demolished Croatia at Wembley.
Steven Gerrard and Lampard both scored twice as Capello's side sealed top spot in qualifying in emphatic style against a Croatian side missing talisman Luka Modric.
Eduardo scored a consolation for the visitors before Rooney wrapped up the scoring as England made their gulf in class tell.