FIFA World Cup: Russia 0 Croatia 0

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Sat, 07 July 2018

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23:49 FIFA World Cup: Russia 0 Croatia 0

Croatia have had more of the possession but but Russia is attacking.

Dzyuba powers at the Croatian box. His pass is a little bit in front of Samedov and his cross is cleared by Cheryshev.

The next minute, Rebic is brought down by Kutepov. Rakitic's curler is well over the crossbar.

23:40 FIFA World Cup: Russia 0 Croatia 0

Who will England play in Wednesday's semi-final? Let's find out...

Too early to say but Russia look confident right now. Croatia are struggling to put two passes together.

Chance!

In the 7th minute, corner is headed back into the middle by Lovren to Rebic who sends it over the bar.

23:34 FIFA World Cup: Russia 0 Croatia 0

Can Russia create more history tonight?

An opinion poll by state-run pollster VTsIOM, which found that most of the population planned to watch Saturday's game on TV, showed that Russians were quietly confident.

It found that 56 per cent of Russians expected their country to win the match and that 14 per cent thought Russia would go on to win the tournament.

That would be a spectacular turnaround for a country that began the tournament as the lowest-ranked team and were mocked and despised by their own fans for not winning a match in eight months.

As tournament hosts, Russia qualified automatically, but expectations among home fans were extremely low.Wins against Saudi Arabia and Egypt propelled them to the knockout stage for the first time in post-Soviet history however, and to fans' surprise and joy, Russia did not stop there.

Last week they beat Spain, the 2010 World Cup winners, coming out on top in a nerve-racking penalty shoot-out at Moscow's Luzhniki stadium to delight the nation.

The Russian team have pledged to do their utmost for the fans against Croatia.

Russia have restored left-winger Denis Cheryshev to the team to face Croatia in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

Cheryshev replaces Yuri Zhirkov in the only change for the hosts, while Croatia also made just one change with Andrej Kramaric coming in for Marcelo Brozovic in the forward line.

The winners will face England in the semi-finals in Moscow on Wednesday.

England reach World Cup semi-finals for first time since 1990.

They will face Russia or Croatia.

Harry Maguire and Dele Alli got the goals as England beat Sweden 2-0 in Samara.

21:19

Maguire is booked for a trip on Guidetti in midfield.

Sweden win a free-kick just outside the England penalty area, right of centre but Augustinsson shoots over the bar.

Marcus Rashford replaces Raheem Sterling.

Five minutes of added time in Samara.

21:13 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 2

"22y 87d - Dele Alli is the second youngest player to score a World Cup goal for England, behind only Michael Owen (18y 190d v Romania in 1998)," tweets, @OptaJoe.

England's Eric Dier replaces Jordan Henderson.

Sweden's Pontus Jansson on for Emil Krafth.

21:09 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 2

Good save from Pickford in the 72nd minute.He palms over the bar from Berg's shot.

The Swede should have scored. What a miss!!!

First change for England as Dele Alli makes way for Fabian Delph.

England so close to a third goal when Trippier sent a cross which is pinched off Sterling's toe but a last-gasp interception from Krafth.

20:54 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 2

Sweden have a mountain to climb if they have to work their way back into this game.

They come close to pulling one back immediately after conceding the second goal but are undone by some poor finishing

20:52 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 2

England make one massive step towards their first semi-final berth in twenty eight years.

Lingaard floats a delightful ball to the far post and Dele Alli is at hand to head the ball in to double England's advantage.

GOAL!

Sweden 0-2 England

20:46 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 2

Dele Alli scores his first goal of the World Cup and England takes 2-0 lead in 59th minute.

20:24 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 1 at halftime

We don't see a second goal from England.

So far so good for England who lead 1-0 courtesy Harry Maguire's powerful header.

On the other hand, Sweden have failed to trouble England.

20:17 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 1 at halftime

Chance for England to double the lead in the 44th minute.

Sterling had just has the 'keeper to beat but he fluffs his lines.

Luckily, the offside flag goes up.

20:09 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 1

Sweden send a free-kick towards the England area but it drifts out wide where Maguire heads clear.

20:06 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 1

England prove their effectiveness in set tpiece situations as Harry McGuire opens the scoring in the 31st minute.

Ashley Young delivered an inch-perfect cross off a corner and McGuire timed his run into the box to head the ball in from ten yards out.

GOAL!!!

Sweden 0-1 England

20:01 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 1

Maguire gives England lead in the 30th minute. The goal came from a set piece.

20:00 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 0

Close! In the 19th minute, Sterling latches onto a long ball. The ball runs loose into the path of Kane, whose pop shot from 20 yards but its WIDE.

In he 23rd minute, Sterling's cross looks to be blocked by the arm of Forsberg, but the referee waves the claims away. No penalty!

19:41 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 0

England win a free-kick but Ashley Young sends it out of play.

For the stats lovers...this will be the 25th meeting between these sides. England have won eight to Sweden's seven, with nine draws.

19:35 FIFA World Cup: Sweden 0 England 0

Harry Kane and Andreas Granqvist lead England and Sweden out of the tunnel.

Sweden kick things off in the Samara Arena.

Five minutes in an it's not the explosive start many would have wanted.

England's Ashley Young and Kyle Walker have both recovered from minor injury concerns to be included in the side to face Sweden in their World Cup quarter-final on Saturday, as has Jamie Vardy who starts on the bench.

Back-up striker Vardy was a major doubt after suffering a groin strain when England played Colombia in the last 16, but was again fit to be named among the substitutes for the encounter in Samara.

Sweden right back Mikael Lustig is banned after picking up a second yellow card and has been replaced by Emil Krafth, while midfielder Sebastian Larsson returns from suspension and comes into the side for Gustav Svensson.

England's Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Walker are all one booking away from missing a potential semi-final, while Albin Ekdal and Viktor Claesson are in the same boat for Sweden.

First half goals by Fernandinho own goal and De Bruyne proved to be decisive as Belgium booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Brazil, despite a slow start, came back strongly in the second half and pulled one back through Renato Augusto late in the second half but it was all to little to late as they succumbed to a shock defeat.

01:22

What a save by Courtois!

Neymar's curling effort is superbly palmed away by Courtois!!

01:21 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 1 Belgium 2

Brazil believe Neymar should have a penalty!

Brilliant ball to the back-post from Fagner, and Meunier's hand is on the PSG man.

He goes down, and appeals.Nothing given, they go to VAR, but again,

NO PENALTY!

01:17

Five minutes remaining, can Brazil make a comeback?

01:12 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 1 Belgium 2

It's the goal that has really brought a renewed vigour into the Brazilian attacks.

Neymar once again releases an unmarked Renato Agusto at the edge of the box who, with the goal in striking distance, shoots wide. That was close!

01:10 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 1 Belgium 2

Just when you thought it was all over, Brazil pull themselves back from the dead. Barely a minute after coming on, Renato Agusto gets on the end of a assist from Neymar and heads the ball into the bottom corner past the outstretched Courtouis.

GOAL!!!

Brazil 1-2 Belgium

01:05 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 1 Belgium 2

Brazil gets a lifeline. Substitute Renato Augusto scored in the 76th minute.

Brazil 1 Belgium 2

00:57 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 0 Belgium 2

An hour into a pulsating encourage her between two quality teams - Brazil with their free-flowing football and Belgium's golden generation with their remarkably effective counter-attacks - has resulted in some end to end football.

Belgium have the 2-0 although if Brazil pull one back it could change the tie altogether.

The biggest obstacle tonight in Brazil's way is time.

00:52 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 0 Belgium 2

In the 57th minute, Jesus has it on the right of the box, nutmegs Vertonghen and touches the ball out of play as Kompany slides in.

The referee goes to VAR, nothing given.

"Crikey that looked like a penalty...erm not the Neymar one,' tweets Gary Lineker.

00:46 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 0 Belgium 2

So close for Firmino in 53rd minute!

Marcelo sends a cross, Firmino sticks out a leg, and somehow makes absolutely no contact on the ball!

Some more antics from Neymar! The PSG star goes down in the box in the 54th minute. Neymar flew through the air before the actual contact. Nothing given!

Neymar is one yellow away from missing the semi-finals.

At halftime Belgium leads 2-0 and if it remains the same, the winner of the 2018 World Cup will be European.

Belgium have played this perfectly and have been superbly solid.

Brazil are in trouble as Neymar looks injured.

00:18 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 0 Belgium 2

Hazard and De Bruyne in full flow.

It's not working for Brazil. Marcelo is slow while Neymar looks disinterested.

00:14 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 0 Belgium 2

Brazilians are shell shocked. Chance! Marcelo sends the ball into Jesus but his free header is wide! More goals to come in this match? Yes, we think so...

00:05 FIFA World Cup: Brazil 0 Belgium 2

What a start for Belgium!

GOAL!!!

Kevin De Bruyne doubles Belgium's lead.