Modric says Croatia too have big expectations, not just England

DPA London Croatia midfielder Luka Modric says the World Cup runners-up have their own hype ahead of their opening Euro 2020 game with hosts England. The s...

DPALondonCroatia midfielder Luka Modric says the World Cup runners-up have their own hype ahead of their opening Euro 2020 game with hosts England.The semi-finals and finals of the pan-European tournament will be played at Wembley, with England also set to benefit from playing all their group games at home including Sunday’s clash with Croatia.But Modric was part of the Croatia side which beat England in the World Cup semi-final three years ago and believes his side can again go far.“England are playing in front of their fans, it’s an opening game of a Euros, I expect a really difficult and battling match. But we are ready, we worked hard these seven days, preparing well,” the 35-year-old told a news conference on Saturday.“I feel very good, and I don’t need to stress how big an honour, but also a duty, it is to play for Croatia. “This is a big competition, there are big expectations from our people as well. We also expect a lot from ourselves and we are looking forward to that.” A plane flew over England’s training session on Saturday warning Gareth Southgate’s side that Croatia would mainly attack down the left.Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic laughed off the message, saying his side would attack across the pitch but that England will too.“We are aware that danger can come from all sides, as we are playing against a really high-quality team,” he said.“It’s important to use our familiar style of play and, of course, we are not coming only to defend. The start is very important and we want to make a good start.” England cancel press conference after Eriksen incident Meanwhile, England cancelled their press conference on Saturday previewing the eagerly-anticipated Euro 2020 clash against Croatia after Christian Eriksen collapsed in Denmark’s group opener.He is now stable and awake.On Sunday, the Three Lions kick off a tournament they hope to begin and end at Wembley against the side that knocked them out at the semi-final stage of the World Cup three years ago.England manager Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane were due to preview the Group D contest, before the distressing events in Copenhagen began to filter through.Kane played with the 29-year-old Eriksen for many years at Tottenham, where fellow England squad members Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier were also team-mates.The Football Association said in a statement: “Our thoughts this evening are with Christian Eriksen and his family, and all connected with the Danish Football Union.” Maguire takes part in training Earlier, Harry Maguire trained with England on the eve of their opener against Croatia.The Three Lions kick off Group D on Sunday afternoon against the side that broke English hearts in the World Cup semi-finals three years ago.Maguire was a mainstay of that side but his place in the England backline has been in jeopardy since sustaining ankle ligament damage on May 9.The 28-year-old sat out the rest of Manchester United’s season, including being an unused substitute for the Europa League final loss to Villarreal, and began training with the England squad on Thursday.Maguire’s availability for Croatia looks doubtful, with Gareth Southgate telling ITV on Friday it is a “long shot but he is further ahead than we thought he might be at this point so we are certainly not going to rule it out”.Jordan Henderson also trained with the group as he builds fitness, but goalkeeper Dean Henderson – set to be back-up to Jordan Pickford this summer – was not involved due to a knock.