| England manager Gareth Southgate walks back out onto the pitch to console his players at the end of the game (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) |
Gareth Southgate was heartbroken but proud after England’s extraordinary summer ended just short of the World Cup final.
The country came to a standstill during Wednesday evening’s semi-final as the Three Lions lined-up against Croatia looking to keep the dream of bringing football home alive.
Kieran Trippier’s early free-kick put England on course for their first final since 1966, but Southgate’s men will not be able to replicate Sir Alf Ramsey’s heroes after Croatia staged a fightback to instead face France this weekend.
Ivan Perisic levelled and Mario Mandzukic secured a 2-1 win in extra-time, propelling the country to a first World Cup final as England’s manager wondered what could have been – 22 years on from his semi-final heartache at Euro 96.
“I think that’s maybe something for a couple of days’ time because at the moment we all feel the pain of the defeat,” Southgate said when asked how the loss leaves England.
“Did we expect to be in this position? I don’t think realistically any of us did.
“But when you’ve got to this point and we’ve played in the way we have, and as well as we did in the first half, then you want to take those opportunities in life.
“So, the dressing room and all of the staff is (in) a very difficult place at the moment.
“Having said that, what I will say is that I am remarkably proud of the group of players that have really advanced.
“I think the reaction of the supporters to them at the end compared to two years ago tells them that, first and foremost, experiences with England can be positive, that the country are very proud of what they’ve done and the way that they’ve played.
“And, yeah, there will in time be a lot of positives to take.
“It’s of course very hard to put that into context and a bit too soon, really, because I think you have to suffer the result a little bit.
“It’s too easy sometimes to move on quickly.
“But, certainly, I’m hugely proud of what they’ve done.
“I couldn’t have asked them to give any more for me or for the country.
“They have broken through a number of barriers over the last few weeks.”
England secured their biggest major tournament win in Russia, as well as winning their first World Cup penalty shootout and first knockout match since 2006 en route to just their third ever semi-final in this competition.
But the defeat to the smallest nation to reach a World Cup final since Uruguay in 1950 is a body blow that leaves the Three Lions reeling ahead of an unwanted third-placed play-off against Belgium on Saturday.
“It’s impossible to say anything to them to make them feel better at this moment of time,” Southgate said.
“I don’t think when people look at the experience and last 18 months, that people expected us to be in a semi-final of the World Cup.
“But, once we were here we really believed we could win the game.
“For us, it was an opportunity to do something which only one team in our nation’s history has ever done.
“We’re still one of only three teams ever to get to a semi-final, and I think for all of the players and staff they have got to be proud of that.
“I don’t think any of them could have given any more.”