By M. S. Salama: Croatia beat England 2-1 in 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia semi finals in Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia on Wednesday. It was 5 minutes from kick off when England's Kieran Trippier netted the first goal scored from a direct free-kick by an England player since David Beckham against Ecuador in 2006. In the the 68th minute, Midfielder Ivan Perisic scored the equaliser for Croatia from an assist by S. Vrsaljko. It was Perisic's fourth goal for Croatia in this World Cup tournament. The original time plus a 4-minute stoppage time ended in 1-1 draw. In the second additional time, which was marred by tiredness of both teams, Mario Mandzukic scored the second goal and the winner for Croatia in the 109th minute. England met Croatia 8 times before this year's World Cup, of which three times in World Cup, with two matches won by England, and one ended in a 1-1 draw. Croatia is scheduled to meet France in the final match scheduled for July 15.