Analysis: England’s World Cup run wasn’t lucky

Croatia crushed England’s ever-growing World Cup aspirations to book their place in Sunday’s final, and send the Three Lions home.

The dust is yet to settle, and rather than an optimistic, refreshing tournament providing a rare English afterglow, a painful aura that they squandered an opportunity lingers.

Mario Mandzukic’s cool extra time finish obliterated England’s roaring set of supporters. They were left in stunned silence at full time – it really could have been their year.

It felt like it, too. The stars aligned in terms of the draw, as juggernauts Spain and Germany were both eliminated in the tournament’s infant stages.

In Gareth Southgate was a meticulous, unflustered head who never wavered from complete composure, even amid the brutal devastation of England’s defining defeat.

Harry Kane led by example, several youngsters including Kieran Trippier and Harry Maguire impressed and the Three Lions, for once, captured the hearts of a nation.

But it wasn’t to be. England couldn’t pave their way to Moscow, and an incredibly industrious Croatia are admittedly deserving of their place in the final.

The result, as in any major tournament, leaves distinct question marks. Can this be pointed to as a ground-breaking tournament? Is this the start of something new? Was it merely luck?

A different feeling

It is commonplace for England, in its entirety, to transform during the World Cup.

Four years ago the festival lasted a scant two weeks, and a sombre feeling England would never recover seeped into households across the nation.

They came into this tournament with no expectation, heightened by their youth, and forged a unique patriotism not felt in decades.

Southgate tried to keep a lid on it, however the increasing wave of impetus proved insurmountable. England rode the ‘it’s coming home’-fuelled momentum, and come the semi-finals an anticipation so familiar left supporters daring to dream.

It was justified. The Three Lions under Southgate had been, at times, faultless. A sparkling performance against Sweden proved that. From Jordan Pickford forward, that game seemed a microcosm of England’s potentially historic World Cup.

It wasn’t, but the nationalistic pride stirred even those hardly interested in the sport. A striking movement, both in England and Moscow, unfortunately culminated in disappointment.

The luck of the draw?

Had England beaten Croatia in the semi-final, it would irrefutably have been the most straightforward route to the final in World Cup history.

None of the juggernauts indicated they would flirt with abject despondency. Imperious Germany were fresh from triumphing in Brazil four years ago, Argentina craved rejuvenation and Brazil were desperate for a response.

But somehow, they all flattered to deceive. Die Mannschaft, from the very beginning, never looked themselves. Argentina were fatally flawed under Jorge Sampaoli, and Brazil couldn’t handle a vibrant Belgium in the quarter finals.

Further surprises including Spain’s defeat to Russia finally saw England get the positive rub of the green.

And, yes, 2018 represented their best chance of reaching a World Cup final. However claiming the Three Lions had simply been fortunate with the draw is absurd.

Southgate’s men had nothing to do with the prestigious countries failing. England did what they needed to do, and beat what was in front of them. Bold, moot claims that a bigger team would have dumped them out earlier does little for a youthful squad, who made history.

Spain, Germany and Argentina blowing one side of the draw bracket wide open was their own doing.

England weren’t lucky with the draw, there was just an awe-inspiring rise of underdogs. Croatia were one of those, and have come out the other end as first-time finalists.

They weren’t counting their lucky stars. Croatia showed the diligence required, and are a step away from history because of it.

A tournament to cherish

This World Cup will be remembered, regardless of the initial negative feedback inevitable after a major tournament.

A motivated, fledgling squad have done the country proud. That should be the overriding emotion, and pointing to luck certainly isn’t reasonable.

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England’s burning desire has been extinguished. But we have seen a country, a team, look as strong as ever. That is down to Gareth Southgate and 23 hard-working men. Nothing else.