Croatia booked their place in the final of the World Cup for the first time in their history courtesy of a 2-1 win over England at the Luzhniki Stadium this evening.
England took the lead after only five minutes when Kieran Trippier gave his side a dream start by curling a 25-yard free kick into the top corner.
Ivan Perisic levelled things up with 22 minutes remaining of normal time to force extra time, and Mario Mandzukic made himself the hero with a 109th-minute winner in Moscow.
Find out how all of the action unfolded on a heartbreaking evening for England courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
This is without doubt the biggest match English football has seen in 28 years, and some may argue even longer considering how kindly things have opened up for them at this World Cup. They face stiff opposition in the form of Croatia tonight, though, and whereas almost everyone in the country is increasingly confident that it is, in fact, coming home, Zlatko Dalic and co will certainly have something to say about that here.
I'm sure you, like me, just want the game to get underway now but I'm afraid we still have 60 minutes until kickoff, so let's start with that all-important team news...
Well, we'll have to start with England and Gareth Southgate has once again named an unchanged starting XI for tonight's huge match, meaning that it has been the same side for their last three matches now - a settled team which seems to be helping England.
The only minor doubts following the quarter-final win over Sweden surrounded Jordan Henderson, who was suffering from a tight hamstring, but the Liverpool skipper has been passed fit to play in his pivot role.
That is particular good news for England as Henderson has not lost any of his last 30 games for England, which incredibly is the longest run of any England international ever.
Sterling is one of the few England players to have been criticised for his form at this tournament - and his performance against Sweden in particular drew the anger of a number of fans on social media - but his pace and movement has been key to opening teams up and, while he has not scored as many as he might have alone, his presence in the team has been integral to England scoring as many as they have.
Kane is the World Cup's leading scorer with six goals already - two ahead of his closest challenger. Indeed, at the previous nine World Cups only Ronaldo of Brazil - in 2002 - has scored more than six goals at a single tournament. No European player has scored seven since Grzegorz Lato in 1974, and none have hit eight since Gerd Muller in 1970.
What's more, Kane has scored on every day of the week for England apart from Wednesday. Should he net tonight then he would join Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard as the only players to have scored for England on every day of the week.
This would be a good time to do it, Harry!
© Reuters
Jordan Pickford, meanwhile, bounced back from criticism of the goal he conceded against Belgium by being England's hero in the penalty shootout win over Colombia and then putting in a man-of-the-match display against Sweden in the quarter-finals.
However, the Atletico Madrid full-back has recovered in time which means that Croatia are able to name an unchanged back four, with Liverpool's Dejan Lovren and the impressive Domagoj Vida - who avoided a ban for his pro-Ukraine celebration following the win over Russia - at the heart of it.
Subasic didn't come off against the hosts and helped his side to the victory on penalties, but he complained after of an ankle problem. It was always likely that he would start this match, but Croatian fans will still be relieved to see him in goal for their side tonight.
Brozovic's inclusion is likely to mean that either Modric or Rakitic - arguably Croatia's two most important players - are given more freedom to roam and affect the game without having to worry too much about their defensive responsibilities, so that is something England certainly need to keep an eye on tonight.
The Juventus striker will lead the line again tonight with support from those around him, including one-time Manchester United target Ivan Perisic. It is a team packed with quality from front to back and they certainly are not World Cup semi-finalists by accident - they will pose a very difficult threat tonight.
© Reuters
England came into this tournament with very low expectations on the whole given the youthful nature of the squad, their recent experiences at major tournaments and a less-than-ideal buildup to this one, but this crop of players have really restored the pride in the team.
It is perhaps no coincidence that such impressive - and unexpected - displays have some once the pressure has finally lifted off the England national team.
It is England's biggest game for 28 years and they have the chance to reach the final for the first time in 52 years. What's more, it may be the best chance they get to reach the final in a long, long time given that almost all of the favourites have already been knocked out by other teams.
A Euro 68 defeat to Yugoslavia may have escaped the memory of many, but their most recent two still hurt - penalty shootout defeats against Germany in both 1990 and Euro 1996 on home soil. England have already overcome their penalty shootout hoodoo at this World Cup, though, so perhaps tonight they will be able to put another one to bed.
England may have needed a man-of-the-match display from Jordan Pickford to come away from that match unscathed, but they produced a professional performance and deservedly came out on top - not a mean feat for a young squad in the World Cup quarter-finals.
© Reuters
The Three Lions have scored 11 goals at this summer's tournament, which is already their joint-highest total with 1966, and eight of those have been scored via set pieces - the most at a single World Cup since... (you guessed it!) ...1966.
There have been signs that England's goal threat is drying up a little in the knockout stages, though; they had 15 shots on target in their first two games at this World Cup, but have managed just six in their three games since then.
England have also had five different goalscorers at this World Cup, which is their joint-most ever at a tournament alongside 1954, 1998 and 2002. They have certainly come a long way since their group-stage exit four years ago and their loss to Iceland at Euro 2016!
This is the first time Croatia have reached the semi-finals since 1998, which was their first ever World Cup as an independent nation, when they went on to finish third. Surprisingly, Croatia have not made it out of the group stages since then until this year, and failed to even qualify for the tournament in 2010.
Indeed, including this year the only European nations to have reached the semi-finals more often than Croatia since their debut at the tournament are Germany, France and Netherlands.
The 3-0 win over Argentina in the group stages was the biggest statement they have made, and they finish top of Group D with a 100% record. they have been less impressive in the knockout rounds admittedly, but have shown great character in those games to make it all the way through to the semis.
© Reuters
The ability to bounce back from disappointments and still hold their nerve in the pressure cooker of a penalty shootout is a trait which cannot be underestimated in knockout games, and England will know - should it come to it - that they probably need a three-goal cushion at least before they can feel safe against this team.
Only one team in World Cup history has won two shootouts in a single tournament - Argentina in 1990 - and it is only four days since Croatia's last one against Russia. Dalic's side may have to dig very deep tonight.
I have already mentioned England's impressive record from set pieces at this World Cup, but it is also worth noting that three of the four goals Croatia have conceded have also come from set pieces, whereas only three of the 10 goals they have scored have come via that route.
Croatia had only won one of their previous seven World Cup games before this tournament, but they have now won five on the bounce including shootouts and have only ever lost one of their six knockout matches against the World Cup - although that did come in the semi-final against France 20 years ago.
That loss, incidentally, is Croatia only defeat in eight World Cup matches against European opposition.
This is a very tough one to call considering the form of the two sides. Both have world-class players to call upon, and it really could go either way on the night. However, there is no way I can go for an England defeat, so I'm backing SOuthgate's boys to get the job done - even if it takes extra time.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Croatia 1-2 England (a.e.t)
Curiously six of the previous seven matches have also been played on a Wednesday, so England will hope that bodes well for tonight!
This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides at a World Cup.
The roles were reversed two years later, though, and the last two meetings between these two sides have resulted in a 9-2 aggregate scoreline for England - 4-1 in Croatia courtesy of a Theo Walcott hat-trick and then 5-1 at Wembley to seal their place at the 2010 World Cup.
CROATIA STARTING XI: Subasic; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic; Brozovic, Modric, Rakitic; Perisic, Rebic, Mandzukic
ENGLAND STARTING XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Henderson, Alli, Young; Lingard, Sterling; Kane
The Tottenham full-back bends the free kick over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Subasic no chance whatsoever! What a time to get your first goal for England!
© Reuters
GOAL! Kieran Trippier scores for @England with a fabulous free-kick! pic.twitter.com/WRQctKZakk
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 11, 2018
2 - Kieran Trippier is the second England player to score a direct free-kick goal at a World Cup (since 1966), following David Beckham who scored one in both 1998 and 2006. Inspiration. #ENGCRO #ENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fDvVY5nFEB
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2018
Croatia, for their part, have been disappointing and slow to get going, but England also deserve credit for the way they have played. They took the lead early on and now find themselves just 45 minutes away from the World Cup final.
I cannot believe I am typing that!
Trippier had never scored for England before today, but he could not have wished for a better way to get his first goal for his country - except in the final perhaps!
Harry Kane has missed the best of them after being slipped clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat, first being denied by Subasic and then by a mix between Subasic and the woodwork from a point-blank range. Lingard has also squandered a clear chance from the edge of the box, fluffing his lines and putting his effort comfortably wide.
© Reuters
Croatia have struggled to get going and get their best players pulling the strings, and they will need a massively improved performance in this second half.
1. It's coming home.
2. This:
18 - Only one of the previous 18 teams to be ahead at half-time in a World Cup semi-final have failed to go on and win (Italy in 1990 v Argentina, who lost on penalties). Resolve. #ENGCRO #ENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/CkO7T5Q3sl
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 11, 2018
Vrsaljko is given all the time in the world to swing his cross into the box and Walker lines it up all the way for a diving header clear. However, Perisic gets in front of him and produces an acrobatic effort to glance his finish past Pickford with the outside of his foot.
GOAL! Perisic volleys Croatia level with a fine finish! pic.twitter.com/2434fkVAqW
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 11, 2018
CHANCE! Perisic hits the post for Croatia but the ball ends up in the hands of Pickford! pic.twitter.com/UDSJ0gQOXy
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 11, 2018
I can't take this much longer!
Croatia have gone to extra time in all of their knockout games so far, but it was England who were looking leggy at the end of that match.
What on earth will this extra time hold?!
Croatia become the 4th team to face extra time in three matches at a single World Cup, after Belgium in 1986, England in 1990 and Argentina in 2014. #WorldCup #CRO
— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) July 11, 2018
A poor clearance sends the ball looping into the air and it is nodded back hopefully into the box. Stones is caught sleeping for a second and that is enough for Mandzukic to get the wrong side of his man and sweep his finish past Pickford.
Croatia (20th) are the lowest ranked nation in the FIFA World Ranking to reach the World Cup final, since the introduction of the FIFA World Ranking in December 1992. #WorldCup #CRO
— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) July 11, 2018
Trippier got England off to a dream start with a fifth-minute free kick which flew into the top corner, but Perisic levelled things up with a little over 20 minutes remaining. The game then went to extra time, and it was Croatia who had the legs with Mandzukic scoring the 109th-minute winner.
Congratulations to Croatia, but England's dream World Cup run is over!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Croatia book their place in the World Cup final at England's expense. It was been a brilliant tournament for both teams - unexpectedly brilliant - and England can be hugely proud of their performance throughout this past three-and-a-half weeks, but they will have to wait that bit longer for football to come home.
I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
England are in action again for the dreaded third-placed playoff on Saturday before the main event - France against Croatia - on Sunday, and we will have full live coverage of both games on Sports Mole, so check back in for that.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!