World Cup 2018: 4 things Croatia could do to beat England in the semifinal

#2 Winning the midfield battle

England are playing 2 attacking midfielders in their central midfield (Dele Alli and Jesse Lingaard) and they would have a natural tendency of moving forward. Croatia should exploit that and put pressure of Jordan Henderson, England’s holding midfielder. Modric should exploit the space with his surging runs and incisive passes to the forwards. Rebic should also fall back to increase numbers in the midfield when Croatia lose possession.

Croatia cannot afford to allow England to dictate terms in the midfield and would have to control the tempo of the game. And right now, there is none better than Luka Modric in doing that. He should inspire Croatia again in their most crucial match by winning the midfield battle.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Sripad