Roy Keane and Ian Wright were involved in an aggressive on-air spat after England’s 2-1 defeat by Croatia, with the former Republic of Ireland captain accusing the ex-England striker of “embarrassing himself” after he made jest of his accent.

Keane initially criticised Wright for getting ahead of himself and dreaming about England reaching the World Cup final when they were yet to negotiate the semi-final with Croatia.

Ultimately, it proved a step too far as England suffered an extra-time defeat due to a late Mario Mandzukic winner, bringing to an end the Three Lions’ dream of winning the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings <b>Croatia:</b> Danijel Subasic – 6 out of 10 His position for the opening goal was questionable and his dive wasn’t all that either. Possibly still feeling the effects of his hamstring niggle suffered in the quarter-final. AFP/Getty Images Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Sime Vrsaljko – 8 out of 10 An injury doubt heading into the game that will have been relieved to see Raheem Sterling targeting the left side of the Croatian defence. Pushed forward as England went into their shells, and it was his superb cross that allowed Perisic to volley home and level the scores. AFP/Getty Images Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Dejan Lovren – 5 out of 10 On thin ice early with referee Cuneyt Cakir and somehow stayed out of the referee’s book. Ran ragged throughout the first half by Sterling and Lingard, and looked like a walking red card waiting to happen. But as England’s attack faded away, the pressure on him eased. AP Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Domagoj Vida – 7 out of 10 The more commanding of the two Croatian centre-backs, though that isn’t saying much in comparison to Lovren’s performance. AFP/Getty Images Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Ivan Strinic – 5 out of 10 Found himself under a heap of pressure as Sterling and Trippier double-teamed him, putting him in a spin that England were unable to take full advantage of. AP Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Marcelo Brozovic – 6 out of 10 It was his loss of concentration that allowed Dele Alli to slip by and force Luka Modric into the foul that led to the opening goal. Looked more assured thereafter, and was one of the main reasons why Croatia were able to turn the tables. EPA Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Ante Rebic – 6 out of 10 Must have been one of the most frustrated players on the pitch as he saw no fewer than three shots blocked by the stubborn England defence, before being replaced by Anrej Kramaric. AP Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Luka Modric – 6 out of 10 Exposed defensively as Dele Alli drew the early foul that set-up England’s opener and looked very much like a 31-year-old who has been dragged through three lung-busting extra-time matches. A shadow of the player we’re used to seeing. EPA Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Ivan Rakitic – 6 out of 10 Just as disappointing as Modric and for all the high billing that the Liga duo were given, they flattered to deceive. AP Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Ivan Perisic – 9 out of 10 Wasted possession early on when Croatia were trailing as he wastefully shot from distance, but made his impact on the game – and then some. He made a lovely run to get in front of Kyle Walker to score Croatia’s deserved equaliser, and it was his determination that got him to the ball first to head into the path of Mandzukic to score the winner. EPA Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Wasted possession early on when Croatia were trailing as he wastefully shot from distance, but made his impact on the game – and then some. He made a lovely run to get in front of Kyle Walker to score Croatia’s deserved equaliser, and it was his determina Took a clattering from Pickford when the two collided in close-range to the England goal, but brushed it off to score the crucial goal that sent Croatia through to the World Cup final. AP Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings <England:</b> Jordan Pickford – 6 out of 10 Involved in a nasty-looking collision with Rebic early on but brushed himself down and looked composed as ever. Didn’t have too many saves to make as England’s defence made block after block, but the resilience finally broke. Getty Images Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Kyle Walker – 6 out of 10 Bailed England out with his phenomenal pace on numerous occasions as Croatia pushed on in the second half in search of the goal they needed, but just like the opening game against Tunisia he was exposed aerially for Perisic’s equaliser. AFP/Getty Images Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings John Stones – 7 out of 10 England’s most impressive defender as he put his body on the line and looked to block anything that came down the centre channel. A strong performance that was undone by his hesitation that allowed Mandzukic in behind to score the winner. AFP/Getty Images Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Harry Maguire – 6 out of 10 Tried to impose at England’s set-pieces but to no avail. Getty Images Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Kieran Trippier – 8 out of 10 Lovely free-kick to open the scoring in the fifth minute dared England to dream and was reward for his efforts at the tournament. The sight of him being carried off injured as extra-time ticked down was a sad one. AP Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Jordan Henderson – 6 out of 10 Made little impression on the match as Croatia were able to bypass the England midfield with relative ease. EPA Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Dele Alli – 6 out of 10 Won the free-kick that produced Trippier’s goal, but that’s just about all he managed and he lost possession too often as England allowed the game to slip away. AFP/Getty Images Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Ashley Young – 6 out of 10 Crucial touch to nip the ball away from Perisic just as he cocked his right leg to shoot at goal early on. EPA Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Jesse Lingard – 6 out of 10 For someone who is capable of the beautiful goal he scored against Panama, he goes missing in games too often. Croatia were able to withstand his early onslaught with Sterling and after that he pretty much disappeared from view. AP Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Raheem Sterling – 6 out of 10 Another who disappointed in terms of the final product. Made a number of runs early on that made him look the most dangerous player out there, but too often he was either on his own or ran into a dead end and was replaced by Marcus Rashford when England started to chase the game. EPA Croatia vs England World Cup player ratings Harry Kane – 5 out of 10 Missed two chances in front of goal that he would have expected to score in his sleep – not knowing that he had been flagged offside both times. Looked completely spent come the end of normal time as he slipped back into midfield once again, and you would not be surprised if he has been carrying an injury since the Colombia game. AFP/Getty Images

However, while the contest was all over on the pitch, off it the action was just starting.

Speaking on ITV, Keane and Wright went toe-to-toe. Here’s the transcript of what they said.

Roy Keane: “You were planning the final, where the parades were. You need a reality check.”

Ian Wright: “Why shouldn’t we get excited about it? It’s something to get excited about. People weren’t even expecting us to get to the semi-final, why couldn’t we have got excited about being in there (final)?”

RK: “Just take it one game as it comes. Take it a game at a time. You’ve no idea what it’s like to get to a finals, or even get to a World Cup. You’ve never been to a World Cup finals.”

It was at this point that Wright started to take the mick out of Keane’s accent by repeating “final” at him in an Irish accent.

Roy Keane and Ian Wright were involved in a heated argument on ITV after England's defeat by Croatia (ITV)

Unsurprisingly, Keane did not take kindly to where the argument had gone.

“You know what I’m talking about. You’ve embarrassed yourself,” he sniped, before turning away from Wright.

Appearing to realise what he had done, Wright stopped and added: “He’s going to cane me again.”

The spat quickly grabbed the attention of viewers on ITV, with one notable onlooker being the former Labour leader Ed Miliband who said: “Roy Keane is just awful I am sorry.”