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#1 Croatia script history
Changing manager months before the big event, sending your backup striker home after he refused to come on and sacking your assistant manager for insensitive comments - controversies have not been far from the Croatian camp. But the work on the field never seemed to get bothered by the storm off it.
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Consecutive extra time victories! That itself speak volumes of the sheer grit and commitment that these group of players have shown under the astute management of Zlatko Dalic. The midfield has been sensational throughout the competition and it was the forward pair of Mandzukic and Perisic that rose to the fore against England.
Modric revealed that English pundits' lack of respect for the Croatian side spurred them on. Many believed that the Vatreni will run out of fuel against the Three Lions. Modric and co made a mockery of a number of pre-match assessments by running circles around England in the second half.
Croatia will now face France in the ultimate showdown on Sunday. These set of players have well and truly scripted history by eclipsing the country's 1998 World Cup superstars by going one level ahead.
