MOSCOW (AP) Its time for Gareth South-gate to come up with a big speech of his own.
After England gave up a tying goal to Brazil in first-half stoppage time in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, Southgate felt coach Sven-Goran Eriksson lacked inspirational oratory in the locker room at halftime.
Now the 47-year-old former England international is leading the team, which plays Croatia on Wednesday in Englands first World Cup semifinal in 28 years. The match is riveting the Land of Hope and Glory, which won its only title at home in 1966.
Probably 18 months ago I talked to them about if you have success with England, it will be so much bigger than anything you can imagine, and I think that is probably starting to register with them now, Southgate said after Saturdays 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Sweden.
Southgate, who didnt play against Brazil, took a swipe at Eriksson after the 2-1 loss, comparing the cool-speaking Swede to a Tory opposition leader widely regarded as dull.
We needed Churchill, but we got Iain Duncan-Smith, an unnamed defender, later identified as Southgate, was quoted as saying in a 2004 book by Joe Lovejoy.
No word whether Southgate will offer his blood, toil, tears and sweat. With the coach keeping his strategies close to his now-famous vest, a young roster led by Harry Kane hopes to succeed where Gary Lineker, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney failed.
England is ranked 12th in the world and Croatia 20th. The winner advances to Sundays final against France or Belgium, which also will be at Luzkniki Stadium.
Croatia lost its only previous semifinal match to host France in 1998. It beat Denmark in the round of 16 and host Russia in the quarterfinals this year, becoming only the second team with consecutive shootout wins in the same World Cup since Argentina defeated Yugoslavia and Italy in 1990.
It wont be easy for us, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said through a translator. We will focus in the next few days to recover as much as possible. We will look for the best solutions ahead the match, considering we have a few players with minor issues after the match against Russia. It wont be easy, but to get into the semifinals its a new motive for us.
WAY BACK WHEN
In Englands last semifinal match, Andreas Brehmes 60th-minute shot deflected off an onrushing Paul Parker at the penalty arc and looped over goalkeeper Peter Shilton to put West Germany ahead.
England tied the score when Parkers cross bounced off Juergen Kohler and fell to Lineker, who beat goalkeeper Bodo Illgner to the far post. In the shootout, Stuart Pearce was stopped by Illgner on Englands fourth attempt, Olaf Thon converted for a 4-3 lead and Chris Waddle shot over the crossbar.
CHECKERED PAST
Croatia went ahead in the 1998 semifinals only 26 seconds into the second half when Aljosa Asanovic split the defense with a pass, and Davor Suker scored his fifth goal of the tournament. Lilian Thuram tied the score a minute later after stealing the ball from Zvonimir Boban near the Croat penalty area and exchanging passes with Youri Djorkaeff. Thuram scored the go-ahead goal with a curling shot in the 70th minute.
