The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Don't miss a thing by getting the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Click here Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Thousands of dejected Mancunian footy fans gave England a standing ovation as the Three Lions crashed out of the World Cup. Despite a heroic performance, Gather Southgate’s men fell agonisingly short, losing 2-1 to Croatia in the team’s first semi-final in nearly 30 years. More than 8,000 people packed Castlefield Bowl to witness the historic moment after calls for a big screen to show the knockout games were answered. AutoTrader stepped up earlier this week to sponsor the event. The biggest mobile screen in Europe was brought to Manchester to show the match. An exuberant atmosphere built in the city centre as fans began streaming in from 4pm. They came covered in England flags and shirts from every era, with relentless chants of ‘Three Lions’ and ‘football’s coming home’. After having no fanzone for the earlier games, England supporters embraced the chance to come together in their droves - even if it was £5.20 a pint and a two-drink-at-a-time limit at the bar. A brass band belted out England favourites and by 7pm there was barely an inch of space in front of the big screen. The positivity was evident before kick off with an unusually passionate rendition of the national anthem in Castlefield. (Image: Joel Goodman) The crowd went bonkers when Bury-born Kieran Trippier smashed in a free kick to give England the lead within five minutes. It was a truly spectacular scene as thousands went wild - and beer went everywhere. Unfortunately, it was to be the high point of the night. Croatia pegged England back in the second half before snatching a winner in extra time. As the final whistle blew, the packed venue broke out into spontaneous applause. (Image: Joel Goodman) It wasn’t the result footy fans wanted, but gave fans a night to remember for a lifetime. Students Liam Crompton and Tom Davies, both 21, were left gutted. “They surpassed everyone’s expectations that’s the main thing,” said Liam. “But that’s hard to say when you lose. The atmosphere was great, especially after first goal. “But then you felt the mood change. (Image: Getty Images Europe) Tom added: “They’ve done so well. “To be 1-0 up and lose it’s a bit frustrating. “Overall I had a class time - when Trippier scored it was incredible.” You’re still our heroes, boys.<doc-sep>"You can imagine all the emails I got after that went out on TV so we were very, very keen to do our best to get sponsors."<doc-sep>Football isn't coming home after all. England were less than half an hour from sealing a place in the World Cup final after Kieran Trippier's early opener but Ivan Perisic's equaliser followed by Mario Mandzukic's extra-time winner crushed the nation's dreams. The evening started off so well as Trippier bent home a sumptuous free-kick at the start of a dominant first-half display by England. However, performance levels dipped after the break and Perisic capitalised as he nipped in front of Kyle Walker to volley home a cross from the right wing. England almost restored their lead in extra-time as John Stones had a header cleared off the line before the City defender switched off at the back, allowing Mandzukic to pounce and send Croatia through to Sunday's Moscow showpiece against France. Scroll down for a recap of all the game's events.<doc-sep>Don't miss a thing by getting the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Click here Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Football will sadly not be coming home this year after England lost the World Cup semi-final against Croatia. England's hopes were shattered on Wednesday night after they lost 2-1 following a Croatian goal in extra time. The Three Lions will now not be play in the final against France on Sunday. But the England players will not be leaving Russia just yet - and they still have one more game to play. England will face Belgium - the loser of Tuesday night's semi-final - in a third place play off on Saturday. The play off will take place at St Petersburg Stadium at 3pm. So don't pack away your England shirt just yet. In most World Cups it tends to be the game where players who have not had a big part to play in the tournament get some minutes on the pitch. The World Cup final will then take place between France and Croatia on Sunday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Kick off is 4pm.<doc-sep>
Gareth Southgate has unsurprisingly named an unchanged side for England's semi-final clash with Croatia - as the Three Lions bid to reach the World Cup final for the first time since 1966. After ringing the changes for England's final group game against Belgium last month, Southgate has picked the same line-up for each of his side's three knockout games, with Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ashley Young, Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard all starting. That loyalty has been rewarded - the Three Lions ended their World Cup penalty curse against Colombia in the last 16 and then beat Sweden 2-0 in the quarter-finals to set up tonight's semi-final against Croatia. It is the first time England have reached this stage of the World Cup since Italia '90 and the first time they have gotten to the last four of an international tournament since Euro '96. So what can they expect from Croatia, who are ranked 20th in the FIFA rankings? Zlatko Dalic's side have already played two exhausting knockout games against Denmark and Russia, winning both on penalties, and are undefeated at this summer's tournament. With Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Marcelo Brozovic in the middle of the park, understandably, Southgate is taking nothing for granted. "They will be the best team we’ve played,” he told reporters. “For us as a team, yes, it’s another chance to create a small piece of history. We’re only the second team to reach a semi-final out of our country, and that’s quite significant. "In 1996, we had every game at Wembley and that was an advantage for us. We’ve got to keep getting over those hurdles. The more of these tests we can come through, the better. Not just for now, but moving forward.” The winner will face France at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday after Les Bleus beat Belgium 1-0 on Tuesday night.