ENGLAND’S great World Cup adventure is over — after Gareth Southgate’s young Lions lost 2-1 to Croatia in a pulsating, nerve-shredding semi-final.

Skipper Harry Kane, speaking minutes after the final whistle, summed up the feelings of the nation when he said: “It hurts. It hurts a lot.

38 England were inconsolable after losing in extra time to Croatia Credit: ITV

38 Gareth Southgate tries to console a shattered Harry Maguire after the whistle Credit: Reuters

38 Harry Kane failed to fire in the World Cup semi-final after scoring five World Cup goals this summer Credit: AP:Associated Press

“But we can hold our heads up high. We have gone further than a lot of people thought we would do.

“Obviously it has been great to get to this stage and we know we have done everyone proud — but we wanted to win. We wanted more and are sad we couldn’t give our fans a final.”

Southgate added: “We’ve come an incredibly long way in a short space of time.

“The whole thing is beyond where we thought we might go. Tonight we weren’t quite there. But the team will be stronger for it.

38 Jordan Pickford holds his head in his hands with his partner Megan Davison and family Credit: Getty - Contributor

England players heartbroken and in tears as Croatia celebrate semi-final World Cup win

38 Jesse Lingard reacts to the full-time whistle as England were knocked out against Croatia Credit: Alamy Live News

38 Kieran Trippier celebrates after scoring a free-kick Credit: EPA

38 England are met with cheers from supporting inside the stadium after losing to Croatia Credit: Reuters

38 Fans surveyed the aftermath of England's World Cup exit with empty beer bottles and plastic cups strewn everywhere Credit: AP:Associated Press

38 Fans shed tears as England's World Cup dream ended in limp fashion Credit: AFP or licensors

38 Marcus Rashford is dejected with his face down in the turf after England's loss Credit: Reuters

38 Supporters up and down the country held their heads in their hands as England struggled to get a foothold in the game and were knocked out Credit: AP:Associated Press

England fans sing 'Don't look back in anger' in support of the team after World Cup exit

38 Ivan Perisic volleys the equaliser for Croatia as he swings a leg in front of Kyle Walker's head Credit: Reuters

“As we reflect, there will be positives but it’s difficult tonight. We were so close to what was unimaginable at the start.”

Pete Wood, 27, of Manchester, said: “Nothing like this has happened in my lifetime so despite the disappointment it has been amazing. No one expected us to get to the semi-finals.

“It’s a young squad and looks good for the future. To get so far is a massive achievement.”

The Three Lions went ahead in Moscow, but were pegged back by Ivan Perisic's equaliser before Mario Mandzukic's goal sent their opponents through to Sunday's final against France.

38 Ivan Perisic celebrates putting Croatia into the lead with a superb volley as he ghosted in in front of Kyle Walker Credit: PA:Press Association

38 Kyle Walker and John Stones react to England going behind in extra time Credit: Reuters

38 A nervous-looking David Beckham watches the World Cup semi-final in Miami Credit: BackGrid

38 There was disbelief in pubs across the country as Croatia took the lead in extra-time Credit: Reuters

Furious Roy Keane argues with Ian Wright about England already planning the final before beating Croatia at World Cup 2018

Kieran Trippier's stunning opener after five minutes as worthy of any game, but optimism evaporated as the Three Lions ran out of ideas - and tension mounted among the millions of fans watching all around the country.

Southgate's men will now go on to play for third place against their group rivals Belgium on Saturday, while Croatia will face the French in Sunday's final.

Yesterday the country was brought to a standstill once more as millions left work early to get home or to the pub in time for kick-off of what was England's biggest game for 28 years.

London's Oxford Street, usually buzzing with commuters, lay empty, and the A11 in Suffolk as well as the M1 in London were deserted as the match gripped the nation.

38 These fans are finding it difficult to watch as the nation gets the jitters Credit: Reuters

38 England fans slump against a barrier in Manchester amidst unbearable tension Credit: PA:Press Association

38 Kieran Trippier's free kick floats over the wall and into the net for an early England lead

38 A Croatia supporter looks happy to be in a World Cup semi-final Credit: Rex Features

38 The stunning Croatia fan makes a heart gesture in the stands as the stadium begins to fill up Credit: AFP or licensors

38 England's biggest fan gets his tattoos out for the fans Credit: PA:Press Association

Kieran Trippier scores STUNNING free-kick as England take the lead in World Cup semi-final against Croatia

REACTION AS ENGLAND BOW OUT OF WORLD CUP

38 Fans at a pub in Southgate, London go bonkers as England take an early lead against Croatia

38 The tension is etched on the faces of England fans all over the country Credit: PA:Press Association

38 This fan has a Three Lions badge painted on to his bald head Credit: EPA

38 Supporters at Ye Olde Fighting Cock in St Albans throw their pints into the air after England take the lead

Ivan Perisic scores ’controversial’ equaliser for Croatia in World Cup semi-final with England

Jamie Vardy's wife Rebekah and Fern Hawkins - the partner of Harry Maguire - were both in the crowd to cheer their boys on, while Gary Lineker, Slaven Bilic and Ryan Giggs all witnessed the game at close quarters.

A surge of 10,000 supporters more than doubled the backing for Southgate’s young Lions in Moscow overnight as they played their biggest game in a generation.

38 Fans in Hyde Park go wild after the early opening goal

38 The emotion is too much for this fan

38 Thousands of England and Croatia fans fill one of Moscow's main boulevards ahead of tonight's World Cup semi-final Credit: Reuters

38 Gary Lineker grabs a selfie with a waistcoat on 28 years after he played in England's last World Cup semi-final

38 It's another stunning evening for it in Brighton as thousands of fans gather in a fan park to cheer on the boys

38 Becky Vardy takes her seat in the stands after flying in to Moscow Credit: Rex Features

38 Harry Maguire's family consoles him after his loss Credit: Getty Images - Getty

38 Jordan Pickford's partner Megan Davison gives the players a wave as she takes her seat in the stands Credit: PA:Press Association

38 Jack Butland's partner Annabel Peyton looks for her seat near the other wives and girlfriends Credit: AFP or licensors

38 Fern Hawkins tries to spot her partner Harry Maguire on the pitch Credit: PA:Press Association

The post mortem over English football's exciting summer began soon after kick-off with Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Roy Keane fiercely debating the merits of their campaign from the pundit's chairs.

Keane said: "Harry Kane made the point about the next step they're truing to take, the next step is trying to get to the World Cup final. The hardest step by far.

"They didn't show enough quality tonight, England. We praised the, but the opportunity was there to win the game.

"Having the opportunity and going to take it is another challenge, and they didn't do that.

"They will be kicking themselves, maybe not tonight because they'll be sore and raw.

"But when Gareth gets back over the next few weeks with his staff, they'll look at it and go 'maybe we could have done something differently.'

"You always have that mindset when you've been beaten.

"But, it was just a step too far for them."

38 The A11 is almost empty near Newmarket in Suffolk Credit: GEOFF ROBINSON.

38 Prime Minister Theresa May poses with a Croatia shirt alongside her fellow premier Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic Credit: Kolinda GK

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