whimpering English media angers Croats

dejan lovren exerts himself along with nation

Croatia defender Dejan Lovren says people should show him more respect now he's going to play in a World Cup final.

Lovren says "I deserve this" after Croatia's 2-1 extra-time win over England, and used an expletive to describe all he has been through.

The Liverpool player was annoyed in a news conference on the eve of the semi-final by English media asking about a 4-1 loss against Tottenham early last season.

England captain Harry Kane, who got two goals for Tottenham that day, did not score Wednesday in Moscow.

Lovren says he doesn't understand why reporters should look back and ask about his mistakes.

"People should respect us more," Lovren says. Croatia will be playing in the World Cup final for the first time when they play France in Moscow on Sunday.

Modric lashes out at English media after semi-final win

Croatia captain Luka Modric feels that the English media underestimated his team who came from behind to knock England out of the FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 semi-final win here.

"We proved everything differently that people were talking," Modric told ITV after Wednesday evening's match.

"Especially English journalists, pundits from television, they underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake," he added.

"All these words from them we take, we were reading and we were saying 'OK, today we will see who will be tired.' As I said, they should be more humble, and respect opponents more. That's it."

After Kieran Trippier had given England the lead inside the opening five minutes, Ivan Perisic equalised in the 68th minute and Mario Mandzukic scored the winner in the second period of extra time.

The victory sent Croatia into their first-ever World Cup final, where they will meet France on Sunday.

"We showed again that we were not tired, we dominated the game physically, mentally in all aspects. We should have killed the game before extra time, but this is an amazing achievement for us, a dream come true," Modric said.

"After such a long time we are in the final, the biggest success in Croatian sporting history. We have to be proud."