England vs Croatia as it happened: Alternative World Cup commentary from Mark Steel and Shappi Khorsandi

Follow every kick, slip, tackle and turn of England's semi-final match against Croatia in Moscow

England fans sing after losing in World Cup semi-final to Croatia

It is heartbreak for England. Football is not coming home.

The Three Lions' World Cup dream has come to an end after the side were beaten 2-1 after a nail-biting 30-minute extra-time.

Kieran Trippier's 5th-minute free-kick catapulted England into the lead and gave the squad the confidence they needed to reach the final.

But it all came crashing down after Ivan Perisic's equaliser took the game to extra-time where Mario Mandzukic's 109th-minute strike took them into the final.

Despite the blood, the sweat, the tears, England still have to face Belgium on Saturday to secure third place, while Croatia will stay in Moscow for the final against Les Bleus.

Stick with us people and follow all the live action below

Key Points

• England crashes out of the World Cup after extra-time defeat to Croatia
• Kieran Trippier gave Three Lions an early lead with a 5th-minute opener
• But goals from Ivan Perisic and  Mario Madzukic see Croatia waltz into the final with France

[11 July 2018 18:01 · jessica.morgan]

Good evening and welcome to the Independent's alternative live coverage of the World Cup.

In the lead up to the very, very, very important (but not stressful) semi-final clash against Croatia, let's look at some analysis from this week. 

First up, award-winning funny-man Russell Brand urges everyone, no matter what the outcome, to love each other.

[11 July 2018 18:11 · jessica.morgan]

An hour before kick-off and the team's are out! 

[11 July 2018 18:13 · jessica.morgan]

  ↵

And if you thought Gareth Southgate wasn't going to don his lucky M&S waistcoat again, you were absolutely wrong. 

[11 July 2018 18:22 · jessica.morgan]

Apparently, fans are starting to get a little supersticious in the lead up to the game... could it be...nerves? 

[11 July 2018 18:33 · jessica.morgan]

Mark Steel: Right, I'm proving my true Englishness by growing more pessimistic by the minute. I'm now convinced the referee will announce that after checking VAR, we went out at the group stage, so tonight we've been replaced by Panama. 

[11 July 2018 18:37 · jessica.morgan]

Mark Steel: This is busiest I've ever seen this particular car park in an industrial estate in Crystal Palace. 

[11 July 2018 18:43 · jessica.morgan]

Mark Steel: In the excitement you may have missed that Roger Federer was knocked out of Wimbledon today, which would definitely be an omen, if we were playing Switzerland, and they'd won the World Cup 8 times.

[11 July 2018 18:44 · jessica.morgan]

Meanwhile, at the Indy Brexit Debate, it appears everyone is getting pumped up for the big game. 

[11 July 2018 18:53 · jessica.morgan]

Mark Steel: The atmosphere in this country right now is utterly brilliant, (if you ignore the government and the social situation). I think they should keep this going by delaying the game for a fortnight.

[11 July 2018 18:58 · jessica.morgan]

Mark Steel: Please let this be the moment we kill off the National Anthem and replace it with Shut Up by Stormzy, or the theme from Teletubbies.