WASHINGTON — Loud cheers mixed with disappointed sighs in a D.C. bar Wednesday after Croatia beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinals.
Lucky Bar in Dupont Circle was at capacity as the soccer drama unfolded in Russia.
England’s Kieran Trippier scored the opening goal of the match, a mere five minutes just after the first half kicked off.
But Croatia’s Ivan Perišić scored an equalizer in the second half, and teammate Mario Mandžukić scored the decisive second goal in extra time.
Croatia wins 2-1 @luckybardc @WTOP #ENGCRO pic.twitter.com/lXBt7i7HwG
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) July 11, 2018
![The mood is anxious in Lucky Bar with 10 minutes left in the match. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Dh2TiDZX4AAfHM_-1672x1254.jpg)
![At Lucky Bar in D.C.'s Dupont Circle neighborhood, an England fan told WTOP's Michelle Basch that if the team were to win, he would toss his beer in the air. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Dh2LPIFW0AAvllm-1672x1254.jpg)
![Lucky Bar in D.C. is packed for the Croatia vs. England semifinal match. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/wc-watch1.jpg)
Croatia goes up 2-1 over England @luckybardc @WTOP #ENGCRO pic.twitter.com/eubyJDKr7b
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) July 11, 2018
#ENGCRO going into extra time @luckybardc @WTOP #WorldCup2018 pic.twitter.com/OwrOhCGiNl
— Michelle Basch (@mbaschWTOP) July 11, 2018
![Lucky Bar was at capacity for the Croatia vs. England match. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Dh184slWsAAzVwQ-1672x1254.jpg)
![The mood is anxious in Lucky Bar with 10 minutes left in the match. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Dh2TiDZX4AAfHM_-260x174.jpg)
![At Lucky Bar in D.C.'s Dupont Circle neighborhood, an England fan told WTOP's Michelle Basch that if the team were to win, he would toss his beer in the air. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Dh2LPIFW0AAvllm-260x174.jpg)
![Lucky Bar in D.C. is packed for the Croatia vs. England semifinal match. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/wc-watch1-260x174.jpg)
![Lucky Bar was at capacity for the Croatia vs. England match. (WTOP/Michelle Basch)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Dh184slWsAAzVwQ-260x174.jpg)
For England, chants of “It’s coming home” were no more. It was England’s first semifinal appearance in 28 years.
England’s last World Cup win was in 1966. This will be Croatia’s first final appearance in the World Cup.
England and Belgium will play for third place on Saturday.
Croatia and France face off in the World Cup final on Sunday.