Russia 2-2 Croatia AET (Croatia win 4-3 on penalties): Ivan Rakitic scores winning penalty after thriller in Sochi to send side through to World Cup semi-final with England Croatia will face England in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night after beating Russia on penalties Denis Cheryshev put Russia ahead after curling in a goal-of-the-tournament contender from outside the box Andrej Kramaric equalised for Croatia before half time after he headed home from a Mario Mandzukic cross Domagoj Vida headed Croatia in front in extra-time after he latched on to a brilliant Luka Modric corner Mario Fernandes fired Russia level with another header and took the quarter-final tie to penalties Ivan Rakitic scored the winning penalty after extra-time hero Fernandes fluffed his lines in the shootout Russia's emotional and stubborn journey through their own World Cup ended in heartbreak just before midnight on the Black Sea when they lost a penalty shoot-to Croatia at the Fisht Olympic Stadium. Croatia will now face England in the last four in Moscow on Wednesday night and on this evidence there is nothing particular for Gareth Southgate and his players to fear. Luka Modric and his team-mates will certainly present England with a different test to any they have faced so far in Russia. They will play on the front foot and attempt to take the game to England, something teams like Sweden, Colombia, Panama and Tunisia have not done. However, Croatia will be tired after this gruelling and emotional night. They have played two lots of 120 minutes in the knockout stages, winning a shoot out against Denmark in the last sixteen, and that may take its toll in three days' time. Croatia players celebrate after winning their second consecutive knockout round match on penalties to reach semi-finals For Russia, this was a tough night. They had come back from the dead with an equaliser from defender Mario Fernandes seven minutes from the end of extra-time to force penalties. But sadly it was the Brazilian-born defender who missed the crucial kick in the shoot-out. For Croatia, Marcelo Brozovic, Modric, Domagoj Vida and, finally, Ivan Rakitic all scored their kicks with only Mateo Kovacic missing his country's second effort. But after Russia had recovered from the shock of Fedor Smolov missing their first kick with a successful strike from Alan Dzagoev, Fernandes dragged his team's third one horribly wide meaning that subsequent goals from Sergey Ignashevich and Daler Kuziaev were rendered meaningless when Rakitic converted Croatia's final kick. Croatia had earlier looked to be on their way through after a header by Vida had been nudged in to the net by substitute and former Manchester City and Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka in the first period of extra time. But then the Russians were awarded a free-kick for handball on the edge of the penalty area in the 113th minute and when Dzagoev whipped it in Fernandes rose to head it in to the corner. Rarely has a World Cup ever heard a noise like it.