LUKA MODRIC issued a withering rebuke to English journalists and pundits who had “underestimated” Croatia after his team’s World Cup semifinal victory over the Three Lions. The skipper said detractors “should be more humble” and show greater respect after his side’s 2-1 extra-time win shattered England’s dreams of glory in Russia. Modric, who will lead Croatia into their first ever World Cup final Sunday, suggested his team had set out to prove a point after noting unfavorable views aired by critics prior to Wednesday’s match. “Especially English journalists, pundits from television, they underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake,” Modric told ITV Sport. The Real Madrid midfielder, 32, has dazzled in Russia and is now just a victory over France away from lifting the biggest prize in world soccer. It would be a momentous occasion for Croatia, whose previous best performance was a semifinal loss to France in 1998. “This is an amazing achievement for us,” he said. “We are in the final. It is the biggest success in Croatian history in sport and we have to be proud.”(SD-Agencies) |