England slipped up badly last night, it's not about wining a game but going as far as you can in the tournament and they shot themselves in the foot big style. A draw rather than a win was required for the far easier route to be secured.
The Croatians finishing second now have an infinitely easier knockout phase match. It was obvious that second in the group was preferable to first and unlike the last World Cup when they got the easier route after finishing second in the group phase, they've in effect chained an anchor to their neck and are sinking fast.
England now face France, Germany or Portugal instead of the far easier runner up from group E, possibly a seriously poor Spain but more likely Slovakia or Sweden.
England reached the World Cup semis thanks to a hugely favourable draw after qualifying second when Belgium reserves beat England's deliberately weakened 'third' team in the last group match, a match both desperately wanted to lose
England rugby messed up by qualifying in first and giving themselves an impossible draw which meant playing the final just a week after beating the mighty all blacks - in effect qualifying first in their group did for them.
Sometimes you have to use your tournament nous and finish in the best position when first is clearly worse, winning a game makes it good the next day, doing well in the tournament is remembered far longer.
