SPORTS: MANDZUKIC’S EXTRA TIME SHOT FOR CROATIA SEE OFF ENGLAND TO REACH WORLD CUP FINAL

Thursday July 12, 2018

By Aiden Graw

www.mknewslink.com

WORLDCUP UPDATES:

FULLTIME: CROATIA 1-1 ENGLAND [AET 2-1]

20 years since France ended their dreams in Paris, Croatia will have a chance for revenge against Les Blues after they booked a place in the World Cup final by out knocking England in a griping semi-final at the Luzhniki Stadium.

It all started so well for Gareth Southgate’s men after Kieran Trippier’s sublime free-kick gave them the lead on five minutes and for the majority of the first-half, Croatia struggled to get with the pace of the game.

This being said, the second-half proved to be a different affair and the Croats got their just reward when Ivan Perisic expertly guided home a superb cross to level the match.  As the game entered extra-time, Jordan Pickford thought that he was going to be the hero after bravely saving at the feet of Mario Mandzukic – the Everton ‘keeper made his feelings known to the Juventus striker during that confrontation – but ‘Super Mario’ had the last laugh when he fired home the winner to send Croatia wild.

LUKA MODRIC’S TAKE

After the game, Luka Modric was interviewed by ITV and he made his feelings about the English media very clear.

The Real Madrid midfielder said: “English journalists, pundits from television, they underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake. All these words from them we take, we were reading and we were saying ‘ok, today we will see who will be tired.”

On a similar note, the Atletico Madrid full-back, Šime Vrsaljko, was critical of England’s approach to the game. “The all-round perception was that this is a new-look England who have changed their ways of punting long balls upfield but when we pressed them it turned out that they haven’t.”

Last but not least, there’s this reply from the former Man City and Spurs defenders Vedran Corluka when he was asked to stop and speak with the English press.

Fans are reacting to Dejan Lovren’s post-match comments after Croatia 2-1 England

Heartbroken England fans have been left to rue what might have been after their World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia.

Hopes of a first final since 1966 were dashed on Wednesday after England slipped to a 2-1 loss to Croatia after extra time.

Despite struggling in the early stages of last season, the defender formed a brilliant partnership with Virgil van Dijk after January and helped lead the Reds to a Champions League final.

Lovren’s Croatia have needed extra-time in each of their three knockout matches but overcame England in the semi-finals to book their place in the final against France.

Lovren, once again, showed just how much he’s improved despite a shaky first-half in the Luzhniki Stadium.

However, the centre-back appears to have a bit carried away with his performance.

 OUR WORLDCUP PRE-MATCH ANALYSIS

CROATIA now Faces FRANCE in World cup final on Sunday at 6:00pm Luzinkhi stadium

TRANSFER NEWS:

CHELSEA MEDICAL, WEST HAM CLOSE IN ON £40M FELIPE ANDERSON

 Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis is keen to ensure Maurizio Sarri does not take any more of the Serie A club’s players with him to Chelsea, with midfielder Jorginho due to undergo a medical on Thursday.

Chelsea have agreed a fee worth up to £57.4million for Jorginho, which is believed to include a compensation payment for Sarri, but Napoli president De Laurentiis will not let the move go ahead until he has assurances none of the club’s other top talent will move to Stamford Bridge while Sarri is there.

West Ham are closing in on the club record £40million signing of Brazilian midfield star Felipe Anderson from Lazio, reports Ken Dyer.

The East London Premier League club, who have already signed ex-Arsenal midfield player Jack Wilshere and Ukrainian international Andriy Yarmolenko this week, will take their summer spending to £90 million if they can also finalise the Anderson transfer.

It is understood that West Ham already have a work permit for the 25-year-old Anderson but that the player is yet to arrive in London to undergo a medical.

Fulham have fought off competition from London rivals Chelsea for the signature of Jean–Michael Seri from Nice, the Cottagers have announced this morning.

Chelsea’s versatile wide man Kenedy has today joined Newcastle on a season-long loan, the London club has announced.

Greek top-flight club Olympiakos have signed defender Roderick Miranda from Wolves on a season-long loan

Miranda joined Wolves last year and was instrumental in the first half of the club’s Championship-winning campaign, featuring in every match between August and November.

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