Moscow — England are dreaming of a first World Cup final since 1966 but first they must come through Wednesday’s semifinal against Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in what looks like their toughest test yet in Russia. Excitement has reached fever-pitch levels in England, with Gareth Southgate’s young team making it to the last four of a major tournament for the first time since Euro 96, and for the first time at a World Cup since Italy in 1990. Both of those runs ended in defeats on penalties, but there is a belief that something could be different this time. England have already won a shootout in Russia, against Colombia in the last 16. And a young, likeable side with an eminently sensible and humble manager in Southgate has captured the hearts of a nation. Can Southgate now become the first manager to win a World Cup semifinal with England on foreign soil? "We were not certain what this team might be capable of," Southgate admitted to ITV. They had won just one knockout match at a ...
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