Croatia captain, Luka Modric was unimpressed with the coverage that the Croatian national team was getting from the English press and he stated that they should be “more humble and respectful”
The Croatian team led by Modric were able to come from a goal behind to win the game in extra time thanks to a Mario Mandzukic goal.
England had taken the lead after just 6 minutes thanks to a sumptuous freekick from Kieran Trippier which Subasic was unable to catch.
England were comfortable in the first half and they should have taken advantage of some dangerous situations, but they were ultimately unable to and they paid for it in the second half with Croatia upping the intensity and giving England a good game before finally getting an equaliser through Perisic.
The winger also hit the post before the end of regulation time. In extra time, Mario Mandzukic was on hand to score the winner.
Much had been made about Croatia’s energy levels going into the match with pundits noting that having played extra time in all of their knock-out games, the Croatians would be tired.
Luka Modric speaking after the game, said that the team used this as a means to motivate themselves to get something from the game.
“Their journalists and pundits on television were talking prior to this match about us being tired, being the walking dead,” he told beIN SPORTS .
“Those words from them gave us even more eagerness to prove them wrong. They should be more humble and respectful.
“When you play a semi-final, it is impossible to be tired. You know how much is at stake. We showed that. Apart from against Argentina, that was our best game.”
Croatia also have a score to settle with France as the 1998 winners were the ones who knocked them out of the Semi-Finals back then.
Modric said: “It means everything. It’s a dream come true for us, and all of Croatia,”
No-one gave us a chance before this World Cup, but with our quality, desire, togetherness and fighting spirit we have shown throughout the tournament, we are in the final.
“I think we deserve to be there. From the first goal they scored at the beginning, we dominated the game completely. We were much better technically and physically than England.”