Creativity on the Croatian and English sides goes through
the feet of Luka Modric and Dele Alli. The Real Madrid midfielder, awarded on
three occasions as the best of the match, is the "captain and leader"
of the checkered table; a differentiating factor from the middle onwards,
valuable as a scorer - he is the top performer of his team – and as an
assistant.
The talented player of Tottenham, on the other hand, seeks
his physical fulfillment after having overcome a slight physical problem during
the group stage. He added only 238 minutes in Russia, divided in three matches,
but in the last commitment of the Three Lions, in quarterfinals against Sweden,
he showed his worth.
He closed the match with a header that announces him ready
for the semifinal. As Modric in Croatia, Dele Alli is called to capitalize on
the game of the English national team.
Southgate is confident that England will emerge victorious
from its first World Cup semi-final in the last 28 years. In 1990, Dele Alli (1996)
was not even born.
The Croatian team has reached this semi-final of the
so-called "easy side" of the draw, surpassing two consecutive
penalties, in the second round against Denmark and in the quarterfinals against
Russia, making Subasic the national hero. Two games in which the selection of
Zlatko Dalic has dominated in terms of game and chances, but has not been
sufficiently solvency to avoid the penalties in these last two matches of the
final phase.
In the last quarterfinal match against Russia we could see a
starting eleven without a pivot and with one more attacker, Kramaric, leaving
Rakitic and Modric as the most backward double pivot. But against England it
can be intuited that the Croatian team will play again with Brozovic as a pivot
to accompany Rakitic and Modric in the midfield, giving them both more freedom
of movement against a 5-field midfield used by the Southgate team. .
Throughout this World Cup, the most recommendable players of
the Croatia team are once again Rakitic and Modric. His statistics in the
matches as well as his scores in Comunio are spectacular. The managers that
have them in their possession will be rubbing their hands, since the average
score of Rakitic is 10 points per game and Modric's score is 12'20.
The selection directed by Gareth Southgate has reached a
semifinal of a World Cup after 28 years, after defeating in the second round
against Colombia in the penalty shoot-out and in quarters against Sweden.
One of the most powerful weapons of England in this
championship are the set pieces. 5 of the 11 total goals that have been scored
since the World Cup began, have been after strategy plays, not counting the
penalties. In addition, the English defense is being the best performing,
highlighting Maguirre, Stones and Trippier. We can not forget either the young
Everton goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford who has been practically the savior of their
own in these last two games.
