Netherlands vs Croatia, summary: Modric penalty, extra-time, score ...

Full-time report:

Well, where do I begin?

First of all, with a thank you for sticking through an incredibly intense affair in Rotterdam. Croatia's class shone through in the end but the scoreline is probably a little flattering to the side who, once again, showed their amazing capacity to keep going. 

It sounds simple, but the fact that Croatia are so tough, like biting into a chocolate bar from the back of the fridge, they are almost an impossible opponent to beat. 

They remind me also of watching nature TV shows, looking on as a heron tries their best to bite and poke its way into the juicy bits of a turtle at the side of a lake. With the little reptile huddled away in his shell, eventually the heron gives up and just flies away. Well, Croatia are the football equivalent.

Eventually they force you, after you have thrown punches for 120 minutes, with no more energy left, to fly away and allow them to win.

Luka Modric kept flying passes into space with eagle-eyed accuracy even when the referee was huffing and puffing to get home and in the bath; what a show of endurance from the veteran.

Croatia had the strength in depth off the bench that was the key in extra-time, with Koeman's subs failing to make an impact and Croatia's Plan B, C and D all working exceptionally well. In the end, they were worthy winners of the game as the Netherlands seemed to run out of steam and legs and mental fortitude to go any more time against this perfectly evolved creature in red and white.

Spain or Italy will have an extremely tough task breaking down their defences and dealing with their attack, whoever makes it to the final.