ENGLAND are one game away from reaching the World Cup final for the first time since 1966.

But they will need to break an incredible tradition that dates back 36-years to do so.

4 Gareth Southgate has England dreaming of a World Cup final... but they will need to break a long tradition Credit: Alamy Live News

Since 1982, when Italy were crowned champions at the Bernabeu with a win over West Germany, the World Cup final has featured at least a Bayern Munich and Inter Milan player.

There are currently two players from the Nerazzurri left in the tournament and just one from the German champions.

Croatia, England's semi-final opponents, have Inter Milan stars Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Perisic among their ranks.

France's Corentin Tolisso plies his trade with Bayern.

4 France's Clorentin Tolisso plays for Bayern Munich Credit: Getty - Contributor

4 Croatia's Ivan Perisic plies his trade for Inter Milan Credit: Getty - Contributor

4 Marcelo Brozovic will be hoping to keep up the 36-year tradition Credit: AFP or licensors

Bayern Munich and Inter Milan players in the World Cup final 1982 - Oriali, Bergomi (Inter) Demmler, Rummenigge, Breitner (Bayern) 1986 - Rummenigge (Inter) Eder, Hoeness, Matthaus (Bayern) 1990 - Brehme, Klinsmann, Matthaus (Inter) Reuter, Kohler, Augenthaler (Bayern) 1994 - Berti (Inter) Jorginho (Bayern) 1998 - Djorkaeff, Ronaldo (Inter) Lizarazu (Bayern) 2002 - Ronaldo (Inter) Jeremies, Linke, Kahn (Bayern) 2006 - Materazzi, Grosso (Inter) Sagnol (Bayern) 2010 - Sneijder (Inter) van Bommel, Robben (Bayern) 2014 - Palacio (Inter) Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Kroos (Bayern) Credit: Reddit - u/thepkmncenter

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So if history is to repeat itself then the omens suggest Croatia will be taking on Les Bleus in Moscow next Sunday.

However a long history of traditions have been broken during the unpredictable tournament in Russia.

Defending champions Germany were knocked out in the group stage for the first time since 1938.

And of course England finally won a penalty shootout at a World Cup for the first time ever.