2018 FIFA World Cup semifinal: England reaction vs. Croatia, Kieran Trippier shines even in defeat
By Zach Bigalke
The dream of “football coming home” died against Croatia, but don’t blame Kieran Trippier. England’s star of the World Cup scored a howler in the loss.
Perhaps the most pained face on a roster full of dejected England stars was right winger Kieran Trippier. The Tottenham star had a phenomenal World Cup, but an injury prevented him from finishing the semifinal match against Croatia.
Trippier got the action going right out of the gate. Croatia conceded an early free kick, a few yards outside the box. That poor judgment by the Croat side allowed Trippier to score his first-ever goal in an England uniform.
It proved to be one of the most phenomenal goals of the tournament. The fullback stepped up and drilled a powerful arcing right-footer that curled over the wall and into the top corner of the net past a diving Danijel Subasic. There was nothing that Croatia’s goalkeeper could do to stop England from taking an early lead.
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The strike sent fans back home roaring in ecstasy. It was England’s first goal on a direct free kick since David Beckham scored against Ecuador in 2006. Hopes were high among a fan base galvanized by the revival of the 1996 song “Three Lions” from the Euro 96 tournament. With each victory, English fans shed a little more of their skepticism and started to embrace the dream of the World Cup “coming home.”
Trippier’s goal sent a nation into jubilation as they dreamed of a showdown with France in the final. Instead, Trippier’s goal proved insufficient to send England through. Ivan Perisic equalized in the second half. Then Mario Mandzukic prevented the festivities from going to penalties with a goal in the second period of extra time.
Neither, though, could boast a goal quite like Trippier pulled off. It was a sad if fitting finish for a national team that has historically punched below its weight. This England squad, though, proved far better than the sum of its parts. And nobody marked that shift from also-ran to contender better than Trippier.
Entering the tournament, Trippier was a solid if unspectacular talent who had yet to emerge as a starter for the Three Lions. Prior to the World Cup run, Trippier had earned just six caps for England. As soon as he took to the pitch in Russia, though, he was a revelation throughout the group stage and into the knockout rounds.
Trippier almost certainly locked up a spot among the best 11 players in the tournament. While his goal served as the iconic moment of the semifinals for England fans, it was Trippier’s passing that helped the Three Lions get this far in the tournament. Launching accurate long balls and crosses, Trippier was a catalyst for England’s attack.
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The one consolation of England’s loss is that Trippier will not be forced to sit out the World Cup final with an injury. Instead, the breakout star of the England squad will be sidelined for the third-place match against Belgium. It was a sad way to end a dynamic tournament for the Tottenham star, but Trippier cemented his place in the England squad for years to come with his showing in Russia.