There will not be many Englishmen more gutted at the national team’s 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinal loss, than captain Harry Kane and manager Gareth Southgate.

Harry Kane insisted England’s World Cup elimination at the hands of Croatia “hurts a lot” but believes they should be proud of their achievements and look to build on a “great foundation”.

The Three Lions suffered a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in extra time despite going ahead within five minutes after Kieran Trippier’s superb free-kick.

Croatia grew into the game towards the end of the match with Mario Mandzukic bagging the winning goal in the second half of extra time.

‘It is tough, we are gutted, we worked so hard and the fans were amazing,’ Kane told ITV.

‘It was a tough game, a 50-50 game, I’m sure we will look back and there is stuff we could’ve done better.

‘It hurts, it hurts a lot, but we can hold our heads up high – we have gone further than a lot of people thought we would do.

‘We created some good chances being 1-0 up, there are lots of ifs and buts and it is hard in these games, it is small margins and it went their way today.

‘Until they scored we were always under the cosh. There is a lot we could have done better but they played better.

‘Obviously it has been great to get to this stage and we know we have done everyone proud but we wanted to win.

It hurts, it just hurts. It shows we can be up here, that we can win knockout games, can get to semi-finals and the next step is to go one step further.

‘This is a great foundation we have built with the gaffer, we are proud of what we have achieved but we wanted more and are sad we couldn’t give our fans a final.’

England aren’t leaving Russia just yet as they face Belgium in the third place playoff match on Saturday as they look to cement their highest World Cup finish since 1966.

Croatia will now face France in the World Cup final on Sunday in Moscow.

Samuel Umtiti’s second half header was enough to send France through to the World Cup final at Belgium’s expense.

Didier Deschamps’ side, the beaten Euro 2016 finalists, had to withstand a late onslaught from their opponents but held on and will now have the chance to win their first World Cup in 20 years.

Belgium enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening exchanges and nearly drew first blood in the 15th minute when Eden Hazard flashed his shot across goal after Kevin de Bruyne’s inventive flick had presented the Chelsea winger with a sight of goal.

Hazard came even closer shortly afterwards, this time cutting in on his favoured right foot and blasting the ball towards the far corner, only for Raphael Varane to divert the ball over the crossbar with a brave header.

Hugo Lloris was then forced to make one of the saves of the tournament, diving full length to his to turn away a curling effort from his Tottenham teammate Toby Alderweireld.

Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe both showed fleeting glimpses of their ability but the best France could muster in response during the opening half an hour was Olivier Giroud’s header from a set piece which drifted harmlessly wide.

That miss appeared to galvanise France who missed the best opportunity of the opening period when Thiabut Courtois produced a brilliant save with an outstretched leg to deny Benjamin Pavard who had been sent clear by a clever Mbappe pass.

The goal the first half had promised arrived just five minutes after the restart when Samuel Umtiti beat Marouane Fellaini to Antoine Griezmann’s corner at the near post and guided his header past a helpless Courtois.

Giroud nearly doubled the lead soon after but was smothered by the Belgium defence having been played in by Mbappe’s impudent backheel.

Roberto Martinez summoned Dries Mertens from the bench and the change nearly reaped instant dividends when the Napoli winger’s cross was headed narrowly wide by Fellaini.

Belgium threw everything they could muster at the French but were unable to really test Lloris, aside from one speculative long range effort from Axel Witsel.

Kylian Mbappe has been unhappy with the treatment he has received from Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports in Spain.

The 19-year-old joined PSG last summer on a season-long loan from Monaco with the option to make the deal permanent for €180 million (£165.7m).

Mbappe impressed in his first season at the club with 21 goals and 16 assists in 46 appearances and has made an impact for France at the World Cup this summer.

But according to El Pais, Mbappe has not been on good terms with Neymar at club level.

The report claims that Neymar and Dani Alves have joked about Mbappe’s appearance and refer to him by his nickname ‘Donatello’ as they believe he resembles the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon character.

It’s also claimed that the Brazilian duo have insinuated to Mbappe that he replies too heavily on his speed, rather than his ability with the ball.

Mbappe’s family have reportedly expressed their concerns to PSG as the forward is unhappy that he is being treated like a rookie by his senior teammates.

El Pais report that a source close to PSG has said that the club have been trying for several days to convince the two players to make a public gesture of support for each other.

PSG were hoping that it could’ve taken place had France faced Brazil in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening, but Neymar and his nation were knocked out by Belgium.

The report also claims that source at PSG has described the possibility of Mbappe winning the World Cup with France as ‘the worst possible scenario’.

PSG are desperate to keep Neymar happy after he pushed for a return to Spain in recent months and believe Mbappe’s stock could rise higher than the Brazilian’s if he is successful with France this summer.

The report claims that even if Mbappe won the World Cup with France, he still would not receive the same privileges from PSG that have been given to Neymar during his first season at the club.

El Pais claim that a source at PSG told them: ‘We hope that Mbappe does not show even that it is better than Neymar.’

The World Cup has been ongoing since mid-June, and exactly what effects it has on your sex life depend on the team you’re supporting, as well as your relationship.

If you are not a football fan, you may discover that when her boyfriend watches matches at the viewing centre, he may come home post-game tipsy from too many beers.

For some, the situation may lead to loneliness when a partner is out watching every game – and the less time couples spend together, the less opportunity there is to get sexual.

When you’re trying to wedge in time for football, work, and daily life responsibilities like eat and sleep, sex does get put on the back burner.

There’s some truth to the stereotype of the ‘football widow’ (which urban dictionary defines as “a woman who must cope with the temporary death of her relationship during football games,” but that we reckon can be gender neutral).

When your partner is emotionally focused on a sports event, they might not have much bandwidth left for intimacy – and any interruption for the purposes of sex could cause resentment (first on the football fan’s side, then on the other person’s side after they’ve been snubbed). If you’re both invested in the game, however, things can be different.

For some, after a loss comes a grieving period; a time when sex would be inappropriate, while a win provides enough joy to replace any desire for sex.

For some people, when the World Cup is ongoing, sex is the last thing on their mind.

“We’re all just there for the game! If we win, I’m satisfied. I don’t care about sex. If we lose, I’m sad. I don’t care about sex,” says Toby, a bachelor.

It’s like football takes up the space in our head space usually reserved for sex and relationships, and there simply isn’t enough room to be invested in both. Or, as James, 28, puts it: “No climax can compare to football coming home.”

But then, does the World Cup mean we’re doomed to a sex drought? Absolutely not.

Will it reduce the likelihood of sex? Possibly. But really, it’s up to you how much of an effect the World Cup has on your sex life.

The football isn’t on all day, everyday; so, there’s still time when you can squeeze in a session of sex.

Just be aware that people’s emotions are likely to be closer to the surface than usual, and sex might not always be the answer.

Trying to initiate sex while a match is on and your partner is squarely focused on the game: Not a good idea.

Dismissing your partner’s hurt feelings about a loss and trying to make a move: Not wise.

Jumping in on the joy of celebration and seamlessly turning it into lust: Could work.

Remember that the World Cup is important (to many people), but so is sex.

Respect the game and the emotions around it, but if football is taking up so much of your or your partner’s attention that sex disappears entirely, it’s time to have a gentle chat about making time for intimacy, too.

Football’s coming home. It’s coming.

But are you?