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Harry Maguire still finds it difficult to watch England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia, almost two months after it happened, because he is still so “gutted” to have got that close to the final but missed out.
England resume competition this Saturday against Spain in the Uefa Nations League , their first match since the World Cup in Russia. Maguire, speaking at St George’s Park on Tuesday, reflected with pride at the achievements of the team this summer, he also opened up on the pain he still felt when he looked back on England’s exit in the Luzhniki.
England were 1-0 up with 22 minutes left in the semi-final before conceding twice to Croatia, who went on to lose to France in the final four days. Asked whether he still looks back at that turnaround with some regret, Maguire confirmed that he did.
England vs Croatia: Story of the gameShow all 190 1 /190England vs Croatia: Story of the game England vs Croatia: Story of the game England and Croatian fans pose in Red Square ahead of the match
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Fans in the stands before the semi-final
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Mario Mandzukic in action with John Stones
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kieran Trippier Goal
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Raheem Sterling battles for the ball
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kieran Trippier of England celebrates
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Jordan Pickford makes a save from Croatia's Ivan Perisic
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Kieran Trippier celebrates scoring
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kieran Trippier after the first goal of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic dives
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Jordan Pickford celebrates
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Kieran Trippier celebrates scoring their first goal with Harry Kane
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Mario Mandzukic in action with John Stones
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England Celebrate
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Jordan Pickford in action with Croatia's Ante Rebic
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Up and over for Pickford
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Danijel Subasic of Croatia makes a save on Harry Kane of England
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia attempt to fight back
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Pickford save
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kyle Walker goes for the head
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Jordan Pickford of England collides with Ante Rebic of Croatia
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Jordan Pickford takes a stroll
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Danijel Subasic of Croatia makes a save on Harry Kane of England
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Referee Cuneyt Cakir talks to Kyle Walker
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Ashley Young takes a throw
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kyle Walker and John Stones in action with Croatia's Domagoj Vida
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Raheem Sterling in action with Croatia's Ivan Rakitic
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia's Ivan Rakitic in action with England's Kyle Walker
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Jordan Pickford of England during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Semi Final match between England and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia team group. Top Row (left to right) Dejan Lovren, Ivan Strinic, Mario Mandzukic, Ante Rebic, Danijel Subasic and Ivan Perisic. Bottom Row (left to right) Marcelo Brozovic, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Rakitic, Sime Vrsaljko and Luka Modric
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game General view inside the stadium
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Rakitic of Croatia confronts referee Cuneyt
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game hairman of the Football Association Greg Clarke, Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev and FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the match
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Rakitic of Croatia and Luka Modric of Croatia confront referee Cuneyt Cakir
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Fans in Millennium Square, Leeds
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Zlatko Dalic, Head coach of Croatia looks on
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia's Luka Modric at half time
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Luka Modric concerned for Croatia
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Rakitic of Croatia confronts referee
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Television monitors inside the stadium
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Harry Kane in action
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Harry Kane in action with Ivan Strinic
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England fans in Moscow
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Harry Kane falls
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Dele Alli header
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate looks on
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Marcelo Brozovic heads it
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia fans in Zagreb
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Kyle Walker sit on the floor
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Sterling v Strinic
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kyle Walker of England lies on the pitch injured
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Harry Kane in action with Croatia's Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Rakitic
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Harry Maguire and Croatia's Luka Modr
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Kieran Trippier and Croatia's Ivan Rakitic battle
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Dele Alli of England looks on
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Jordan Pickford of England kicks the ball away
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ashley Young of England looks on
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Sime Vrsaljko of Croatia challenges Raheem Sterling
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Jordan Pickford during the match
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Gareth Southgate leads
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia fans
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Strinic of Croatia is challenged by Kieran Trippier
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game ngland's Harry Kane in action with Croatia's Dejan Lovren
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England's Raheem Sterling in action with Croatia's Sime Vrsaljko
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Harry Kane of England lies on the pitch
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Modric in peril
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Vrsaljko with Sterling
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Pickford directs
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kyle Walker of England clashes with Ivan Perisic
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Throw in by Ashley Young
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Luka Modric of Croatia pleads
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kane fights for the ball
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ref stops play
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Perisic goal
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kane gets thirsty
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Perisic celebrates the equaliser
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Walker injury time
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Perisic gets round Pickford
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Right through Pickford
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Perisic gets Croatia's first
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Perisic celebrates his goal
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Perisic scores
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Strinic skills
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Crouching PIckford
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Perisic celebrates
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia hit the post
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Three lions roar from the stadium
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game It all falls down
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Catch by Pickford
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate enthusiasm
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate unsure
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Birdseye view
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kane anxious
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Perisic of Croatia scores his team's first goal
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Vida slides along
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate contemplates the outcome
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Ivan Perisic of Croatia scores
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia celebrates a goal
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia at half-time
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate checks the clock
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate watches his team
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kane looks on
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Pickford jumps for the ball
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Pickford holds out his arms
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kane from behind
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia Manager
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia go for the ball
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate applauds the teams
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Extra time is upon us
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kane battles
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Brozovic flies
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Brozovic and Kane battle
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Modric takes the ball
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Perisic in action
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Captain Modric takes command
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Pickford shouts it out
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Despair form the fans
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate considers his team
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Injury time
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Sub time
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Injury checks by the ref
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatian fans
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Danny Rose tackled
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Dier gets ready
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Dier gets steady
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Dier comes on
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Zlatko Dalic directs
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game FIFA President attends the matchDier
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Pickford in action
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Dalic fury
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Vrsaljko clears the ball off the line
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Stones heads the ball
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Dele Alli challenged
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia's second goal
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia takes the lead
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England huddle
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England desperate
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate team talk
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Crotia huddle
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Crotia Score
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Crotia celebrate
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Crotia in action
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate calls out
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England chance
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Trippier injury
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia 2 up
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England unsure
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Pickford dejected
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Vardy in despair
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatian joy
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia celebrate 2-1
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatian fan looking tense
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia celebrates going ahead
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England lose 2-1
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England abandon hope
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England loss
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Final whistle
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kane is coming home
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game They think it's all over
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia win 2-1
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate consols
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England and Croatia managers pay their respects
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kane upset
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Pickford gives up
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Kane dejected
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Rashford out
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game England fall
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatian pride
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Southgate huddle
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia celebrate a 2-1 win
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Croatia celebrate
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England vs Croatia: Story of the game Going home, goodbye Moscow
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“Definitely, without a doubt,” Maguire said. “I still see little clips now and again and you get that little bit of a buzz and you still have the memories. But I still have that bit inside me which is a bit disappointed. It does make me feel a little bit gutted at times to think how close we were. We were really close, at half-time we had one foot in the final of a World Cup so if you look back at that game it is disappointing.”
Then asked if he had watched the full two hours of the Croatia game back, Maguire said he had only seen the shorter version. “I have watched the highlights,” Maguire said. “I find it tough to be honest, to watch it back. I have watched my goal [against Sweden] more than anything to be honest.”
Harry Maguire has a key component for Gareth Southgate (Reuters) Looking at that Croatia game, Maguire still believes that England were not as badly outplayed in the second half as many thought at the time. “In the game the England fans thought we were under pressure, but that was the intensity of the game, the emotions of the game,” he said. “Playing the game I felt really comfortable, and I really did feel they weren’t going to hurt us or score. That’s always on my mind when I think about the Croatia game. But it’s gone now, and something we have to move on from.”
But Maguire’s overall reflections on the tournament were still extremely positive despite the pain of how they went out. “Overall I think it was an unbelievable experience, one that I am really proud to have been part of,” he said. “When you look at the experience and what we did for the country, everyone getting right behind us, and it was something really special and something we want to do again in the future.”
Although Maguire went on holiday to Barbados to relax before the new season, he said that he has been asked for plenty of photographs while in England. Especially when he went to see his two brothers play football against each other at the end of the summer. “I watched Gainsborough v Chesterfield, my brothers play for either side,” Maguire said. “At half-time, there was a pretty long queue. I tried to get through as many as I could. I think they restricted them to one photo or a signature each to try and get through. There must have been a good few hundred queueing up. That was probably the busiest place I have been but it is nice.”
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