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The second semi-final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be played on Wednesday between Croatia and England at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. The two teams will meet for the eighth time overall but for the very first time in the World Cup finals tournament.
Croatia have been very impressive in this World Cup as they won all their group games which also included the 3-0 hammering of Argentina. The East European nation faced Denmark in the Round of 16 and won the tie on penalties.
They faced hosts, Russia next and once again won on penalties thereby becoming only the second team to win two consecutive penalty shootouts at the World Cup after Argentina in 1990.
England with a young squad have surprised everyone as they made it to their first World Cup semi-final in 28 years. Prior to the tournament, there weren't a lot of expectations from the inexperienced English side but they shut all their critics after performing exceptionally well at the biggest stage.
England finished second in their group and faced Colombia in the Round of 16 where they finally lifted their curse of never winning a penalty shootout at the World Cup. The Three Lions then went up against Sweden and booked a semi-final spot with a comfortable 2-0 victory.
We shall now take a look at 5 key players who will play a crucial role for their side in Wednesday's compelling semi-final fixture.
#5 Mario Mandžukić (Croatia)
Mandžukić made his debut for the Croatian national team on 17 November 2007 against Macedonia and has since earned 87 caps. He has scored 31 goals for Croatia and is currently second in the list of all-time top scorers behind Davor Šuker.
The 32-year-old forward plays for Italian Serie A side, Juventus and has won numerous titles with The Old Lady. Mandžukić has scored 34 goals in 127 appearances for Juventus over a span of three seasons. He was a vital member of the squad that reached the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League final where he scored his side's only goal in a 1-4 defeat against Real Madrid.
Mandžukić has great goalscoring abilities and in addition to that, he also possesses physical strength, versatility, and mobility. He primarily serves as a striker or target-man in the penalty area due to his height and aerial prowess. In addition to his ability as a footballer, Mandžukić is also known for his leadership and mental strength.
At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Mandžukić has featured for Croatia in four games, scoring one goal and has provided an assist. He is expected to play a pivotal role for his national side against England in the all-important semi-final match on Wednesday.
#4 Jesse Lingard (England)
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder made his international debut against Malta in October 2016, starting on the left wing. He scored his first international goal earlier this year in March against The Netherlands in a friendly match and was selected in the English squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup by Gareth Southgate.
He has been playing for Manchester United since 2011 after coming through the club's youth academy. He had a productive 2017-18 season with the Manchester-based club as he scored 13 goals in 48 appearances.
Lingard plays mainly as an attacking midfielder or winger and has the ability to hold the ball in the midfield region. His strengths include passing, long shots and finishing. He is a counter-attacking threat who likes to do layoffs and cut inside.
He has played four matches at the World Cup till now and has contributed with a goal and an assist. His presence in the midfield could be crucial for England's success in the semi-final match against Croatia.
#3 Ivan Rakitić (Croatia)
Rakitić made his international debut with Croatia on 8 September 2007 against Estonia in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier. He had previously represented Switzerland at youth level but decided to accept the call-up by Croatian team's coach Slaven Bilić. He has made 97 appearances for the East European nation, scoring 15 goals.
He currently plays for Spanish club FC Barcelona after moving there from Sevilla in 2014. He has made over 200 appearances for the Catalan club and has won 11 titles in a span of four seasons.
The 30-year-old midfielder is known for his strong passing and concentration. He is a vital part of the central midfield for both his club and country as he is great at transitional play. He often covers for his right-back and is available for defensive duties when ball possession is lost.
At the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, he has featured in all five of Croatia's games till now and also scored a goal against Argentina. He also stepped up to take the decisive penalty kicks during Croatia's penalty shootouts against Denmark and Russia.
#2 Harry Kane (England)
Harry Kane made his debut with the senior English side in March 2015 in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania as he replaced Wayne Rooney in the second half. He scored just 80 seconds later with a header from a Raheem Sterling cross. He has since appeared 28 times for The Three Lions and was named the captain for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
At club level, Kane plays for Tottenham Hotspur where he has spent his entire career as he came youth academy of the London based club. He has made 213 appearances for the Spurs, netting 140 goals. He has been the club's top goalscorer for the past four seasons and is also the sixth all-time top goalscorer.
The 24-year-old striker has good pace and is a typical goal-poacher who is a definite threat in the penalty area. His hold-up play and close control make him a technical player who can create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.
He has been in great form at the 2018 FIFA World Cup as he currently leads the Golden Boot race with 6 goals. He has played 4 out of 5 games for England till now and will be a vital player for them on Wednesday in the semi-final match against Croatia.
#1 Luka Modrić (Croatia)
Luka Modrić made his international debut with the senior Croatian side in March 2006 in a friendly match against Argentina in Basel, which Croatia won 3-2. He has made 111 international appearances and was made captain of Croatia in March 2015.
He currently plays for Spanish side Real Madrid where he has spent six seasons. He has won 14 titles with Los Blancos and has been a vital member of the squad that won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles from 2016 to 2018.
The 32-year-old is a diminutive midfielder who is described as a creative playmaker. He has great vision and is able to play with both feet which enables him to swiftly switch flanks. He is widely praised for his ball control, first touch, positional play and ability to retain possession in the midfield.
He has featured in all 5 games for Croatia till now and has scored two goals and provided an assist. His presence in the Croatian midfield initiates quick attacking moves and in the semi-final match against England his role as a playmaker will be crucial.
