Croatia V England SOUTHGATE FLOURISH with COULD BE
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C10 WORLD CUP | THE STRAITS TIMES | WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 | | WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 | THE STRAITS TIMES | WORLD CUP C11 CROATIANS CAN Croatia v England SOUTHGATE FLOURISH WITH COULD BE Key battle: Dejan Lovren v Harry Kane LINE-UP TWEAK Leading the Golden Boot race with League clash against Tottenham ENGLAND’S six goals, Kane is widely considered after just 31 minutes. By then Kane one of the best all-round had evaded Lovren twice, scoring centre-forwards in the game right the opener before creating the now. second. Lovren knows how difficult it can Lovren has a chance to show that be to mark Kane. On Oct 22, 2017, he has learnt his lesson while Kane is SALVATION the Liverpool centre-back was looking to serve up another striking It can feel as though the Real substituted in the Premier masterclass. Mandzukic as lone frontman will aid Modric Madrid midfielder is emerging as a potential successor to Lionel Messi and Rakitic and free up space for wingers and Cristiano Ronaldo in the ranks of Ballon d’Or winners. His rifled goal against Argentina strengthened his candidature. His Effective game and player management skills successful spot-kick in the shoot- out against Denmark, minutes after Key statistics have boosted his credentials to lead the team he had missed a penalty in extra time, was redemptive. His corner burg on Sunday, while his back- led to Domagoj Vida’s goal against 29.5 Average age 26 room staff were also involved in cre- Russia. 1.85m Average height 1.82m ating a playlist in which they were Richard Jolly That Modric has perjury charges asked to select two songs each – hanging over him in his homeland, 10 Goals scored 11 savvy moves to foster team spirit which could lead to a five-year jail and earn implicit trust from those Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico term, makes his displays all the 78 Total attempts 70 around him. Madrid and Liverpool. Juventus, AC more remarkable. Rather than be- 19 Attempts on target 19 Former Ireland international Ray Milan, Inter Milan and Fiorentina. ing distracted and diminished, he David Lee Houghton, who played with South- The case for Croatia has always in- has been determined and decisive. 4 Goals conceded 4 gate at Crystal Palace briefly in volved the cast list’s employers. Now Dalic should aid his captain. In Moscow 1995, told The Straits Times he was Football has become one of the lead- The Croatia manager has alter- 2,736 Passes attempted 2,665 not surprised with the strong dis- ing export industries for a country nated between 4-1-4-1 and 4-4-2 play of football IQ and EQ. of just over four million people. Its during the tournament. And while 83% Passing accuracy 87% For the first time at this World Cup, He said: “I always thought he finest products are displayed in the it would be harsh to drop the quar- 581km Distance covered 565km England manager Gareth South- (Southgate) would go on and be a most prestigious of locations. ter-final scorer Andrej Kramaric, gate looked slightly unsure. An manager as he is a bright man. And yet tipping Croatia is not sim- he ought to leave Mario Mandzukic hour after his team had beaten Swe- “He is also a genuine and humble ply a case of taking a cursory glance alone in attack tonight. One of the den 2-0 in Saturday’s quarter-fi- man who learnt how to talk to the at the teamsheet and assuming play- most underrated strikers in the Head-to-head nals, he returned to the pitch to media, went to numerous countries ers signed by the biggest clubs will world can cope on his own. thank the 1,000 fans of the Three Li- to look at different sports and how excel together. Besides the benefit to Modric and ons who had stayed behind in the coaches dealt with their players so Last meeting Those individuals have displayed Rakitic, who can operate further up- Played Croatia wins England wins Draws Cosmos Arena to celebrate. he could get a better understanding chemistry and commitment. Croa- field if Brozovic is inserted behind Fifa World Cup qualifier, Looking sheepish as they sere- of management. tia were arguably the outstanding them, it ought to give more free- September 2009: naded him, Southgate played along “He has come on very well as a side in the group stage; their rout of dom to Ivan Perisic and Ante Rebic, England 5 Croatia 1 in good nature and waved his hands manager, and it has helped that Argentina was perhaps the finest who has been a hard-running reve- 7 2 4 1 like a conductor to the delight of many of the players are young and performance in the tournament’s lation. Croatia’s powerful wingers the crowd before disappearing have bought into his ideas. He has first two weeks. can either find space behind Eng- down the tunnel. gone with a very exciting, quick and It proved, too, that they are capa- land’s wing-backs or take them Even under awkward circum- athletic team and it has worked be- ble of performing under pressure. back. Their side will benefit either stances, Southgate barely puts a cause he has let them play with a So, in a different way, did their elim- way. foot wrong, and chances are, he will freedom.” ination of the hosts, Russia. Croa- It is a shape Croatia used to elimi- Team news make the correct decisions in Southgate’s attention to detail is tia’s skills as party poopers should nate Argentina and one that allows tonight’s semi-final clash against evidenced by England’s set-piece have England wary. them to show their quality. They Croatia England Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in prowess. They have scored eight of So should their character. Zlatko possess more of it than England. Moscow. their 11 goals from set plays, which Dalic’s side have not hit the same They also have the incentive. The Croatia are waiting on the fitness of Gareth Southgate is expected to have His judgment since taking charge sets them up nicely against a Croat- heights with their performances in semi-finalists of 1998 were Croa- first-choice right-back Sime Vrsaljko a full squad to choose from. Jamie in late 2016 has been near impecca- ian side that have conceded three the knockout stages, yet it is signifi- tia’s greatest team. The class of and goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, both Vardy, who strained his groin against ble. out of four this way. cant that they conceded first to 2018 have their greatest opportu- of whom were injury concerns during Colombia and Jordan Henderson, who He decided early on to switch At the other end, the choice of Jor- both Denmark and Russia, and re- nity. So far, they have shown the the quarter-final win over Russia. has recovered from a tight hamstring from the traditional back four to a dan Pickford as No. 1 has been in- sponded swiftly on each occasion. combination of talent and grit to against Sweden, both came through a back three, which provides in- spired, said former English Premier They recovered from the setback of take them to the brink of the final. It full training session. creased defensive stability through League custodian and ex-Singa- conceding a 115th-minute equaliser could be a winning blend again. a compact centre and allows the pore goalkeeping coach John Bur- in the quarter-final to win the subse- wing-backs to push higher up the ridge. quent penalty shoot-out. [email protected] pitch to augment the attack. He added Pickford will be key And while England achieved a Pundit’s pick He was also bold in his selection against the more formidable Croat- cathartic spot-kick win over Colom- of personnel for the World Cup. ian frontline of Mario Mandzukic, bia, Croatia have to be considered Goalkeeper Joe Hart was dropped Ante Rebic, Andrej Kramaric and Slaven Bilic: Match will be won or lost in midfield Alan Shearer: Game, set piece, match for England favourites if they cannot be sepa- while Southgate kept faith in Kyle Ivan Perisic – who have all opened rated in 120 minutes. Former Croatia and West Ham manager, an ITV pundit, Former England striker told the BBC: “Right from the Walker, Harry Maguire and John their accounts – in their 4-2-3-1. Ivan Rakitic has calmly converted told The Telegraph: “This is going to be the biggest test start, we have shown how dangerous we are from set Stones as his first-choice backline Burridge said: “Jordan is not big the winning penalty in successive for (England) because of the quality we have all over the pieces and, far from teams working out how to stop us, despite question marks about their and tall. He is 1.85m, which is per- shoot-outs. Danijel Subasic has al- pitch and especially in midfield. England have not faced the fear factor has built and built... We know that free His (Southgate’s) judgment experience and form. fect for getting to both the low and England have long ready saved four efforts from 12 They have justified his faith and high shots. I love that he also has a that. This is major. You are talking about one of the best kicks and corners are the big things Croatia will be since taking charge in late struggled against yards. The Monaco goalkeeper is a midfield pairs in Europe and in the tournament with worried about.