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W When Luka Modric moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008, England had spent a summer without a football tournament, having missed the European Championships. The Croatian midfielder was spending four seasons at White Hart Lane and that was a period when he had a close look at the difficulties of the England team; Anxiety, anger and division that characterized the sensation
England would qualify for the 2010 World Cup and the Euro 2012, but there was little to tell. They flopped on the first one, one of the lowest points being Wayne Rooney 's in – camera criticism on mocking support after the draw in group stage with Algeria, while that was not enough. they returned to their junk at the exit of Italy. 19659004] Modric remembers all things about the disconnect between the nation and the team; how to manage England was the impossible job. It would remain the case after his transfer to Real Madrid. While he was accumulating titles, including a Champions League after the other, England continued to look like a stuck record.
What worries Modric and the rest of Croatia, as they prepare for the World Cup semi-final against England in Moscow. Wednesday, is the unity of their opponents found again. Quite simply, this is not supposed to be so, but by listening to Modric and other members of the Croatian team after their victory against the Russians in the quarterfinals on Saturday night, it is clear that the Gareth Southgate's work is gone. They are suspicious.
"They look strong in teams," Modric said. "I do not know if there is a different mentality, but it seems like they're more like a team, they have that cohesion that's very important for success."
Davor Suker, the former Croatian striker, who is now the president of the country's football federation, echoed Modric's feelings. "What I would like is to face the England team before, but now they are very strong and we have to respect them," Suker said. "This is not the money that will play – or Ferrari or watches.It will be 11 warriors against 11."
Modric played with English defenders Kyle Walker and Danny Rose at Tottenham while # He remembers Harry Kane's footsteps in the professional game. At the start of the 2011-2012 season, Kane played a role in the leagues of the Europa League, including a 2-1 home defeat against PAOK Thessaloniki, during which he and Modric started.
"Harry was young and had just arrived." Modric said. "He was always a hard worker, I remember a story about him, but I'll keep it to myself."
This little reaction provoked a predictable reaction from journalists present, but Modric was more willing to discuss a few questions.The performance of the English team and the levels of fatigue of England
Modric and his teammates watched Saturday's quarterfinal match of England against Sweden in the quarterfinals had shaped the opportunity Corners or free kicks allowed England to score seven goals in the tournament.
Croatia was the victim of A fatal blow on a free-kick from Russia in overtime, which allowed Mario Fernandes to lead the equalizer.They conceded only three goals in the final and one of the others came when they failed to defend a long throw in the box during the last first penalty shoot-out in 16 against Denmark
. I said. "They have players like Maguire, Harry Kane and [John] Stones, who are strong and who are as good on staging, we will have to pay attention to these details because we have conceded to one against Russia that we have We should not have allowed. "
Some of the Croatian players looked up during extra time against Russia and the bodies started curling. Goalkeeper, Danijel Subasic, suffered a hamstring problem that he would not feel at the end of regulation time until after treatment, while Sime's right back Vrsaljko was forced to extend his knee injury.
"England has suffered less than us," Modric said. "And we have fewer days to recover in the semi-finals than for the quarter-finals, but it's a semi-final, we will find the extra motivation, all the extra."
Modric was excellent against the Russia, its growing influence in the second half after Zlatko Dalic introduced the defensive midfielder, Marcelo Brozovic. Previously, Modric and Ivan Rakitic had played at the center of a 4-2-3-1 formation; now they have been released further, on either side of Brozovic, in a 4-3-3. Modric has always looked better when he played higher on the pitch and it is clear that one of the main challenges of England will be to cancel it.
What shone through the camp of Croatia, is how much England. The belief is that unlike Denmark, in particular, and Russia, the Southgate team will try to make the game; "We like playing against teams like England because we have fast players and they will be open," said Vedran Corluka, former defender of Manchester City and Tottenham. "We both want to have possession, we want to win.The style of England is a bit like that of Manchester City, especially with Stones who is still on the field.I hope it will be like Wembley in 2007, when we won 3-2! "
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