IT was heartbreak for Longford's Jesse Lingard and his England teammates in the World Cup semi final.

The Manchester United midfielder started and played all 120 minutes, but could not prevent the Three Lions losing 2-1 to Croatia in Moscow.

They had led at half-time through Kieran Trippier's fifth-minute free kick, but goals from Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic sent the Croatians through to Sunday's final.

Lingard and England must now regroup for Saturday's third-place play-off against Belgium in St Petersburg.