World Cup 2018: Dejan Lovren claims Croatia beat England mentally as he claims to be one of the best in world

The Liverpool defender insists Croatia have now usurped the famous 1998 team

Dejan Lovren said the main difference between Croatia and England was “mental”, and that was why the new World Cup finalists were able to show more despite accusations they were “tired” after a third successive game going to extra-time.

The centre-half was another Croatian player to mention perceived criticism of his side and motivation, and doubled down on the claim that he has proven himself one of the best centre-halves in the world.

Croatia did look tired for the first hour of their semi-final against England, as they trailed to Kieran Trippier’s free-kick and did not look like getting back into the game, only to completely turn it around with Ivan Perisic’s improvised strike before Mario Mandzukic’s late winner.

Lovren said discussion of his side had been noted, as they went one stage further than the famous 1998 Croatia.

“Before this game they said we are tired but we showed in extra-time we had fresher legs than them. Simple as that,” he said. “Not just the English press, I am saying from the beginning. It is just sometimes it is unfair. Like in my case when you are talking about me. I think people should respect me also. But from today everyone in Croatia and around the world thinks that we managed to make history today. It is special history when you look back and see three times 120 minutes and we had fresher legs than that England team.

“The difference was mental. Mentally. Because we knew we could write history today and we did it. Now there is only one game left to make it forever. But I think even now after 20 years people will remember us and not just the ’98 team. This is what I wanted. This is why I am proud. You deserve this.

“It feels incredible, especially after everything that was said about us before the game. We showed our character we showed that we deserved to be in the final and people should respect us.”

It means Lovren himself will play in football’s two biggest fixtures in the space of two months, and he said he would have signed on for all the criticism he has suffered this season to end up with that. The Liverpool centre-half had before the game become irritated with a question about how he had struggled with Harry Kane in two games against Tottenham Hotspur.

“Beautiful. If somebody told me that from the beginning of the season that I would be in two of the biggest finals in the world I would have signed straight away and I went through a lot of s***. Yesterday I received a question like what do you think about the 4-1? I really don’t understand these questions, always looking back to where I made some mistakes. I really don’t understand. There is too much about me. But whatever, this is what gets me more motivated to work harder and prove everyone wrong, everyone.”

Asked whether he wanted to prove he’s one of the best defenders in the world, Lovren said “I think I have done that, without being arrogant” before revealing he had been in touch with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

“Yeah, he's proud of me and what I achieved. He knows what I went through. He's a good man. Even in tough times he was always backing me up. I appreciated that.”

Lovren meanwhile argued that Luka Modric proved himself as the best midfielder in the world, too, particularly given how he persevered despite clearly looking exhausted.

“It was fatigue. Three times in 10 days 120 minutes it is not so easy. Modric showed today that he is the No 1 midfielder in the world.

It was put to Lovren how a country has small as Croatia - with a population of around 4.2m population - could keep succeeding in football, as they became the smallest country to reach a World Cup final since Uruguay in 1950. He had a playful answer.

“It's unbelievable how many talents we have in sports. When you look at basketball, at handball, at water polo - tennis especially. I would say we have good mothers and fathers. They're making good love I would say.”

The final now offers a rematch of the 1998 semi-final. Croatia will be underdogs, but Lovren said they will relish that.

“The final will be tough. Against Denmark [in the last 16], it was tough and today it was tough especially in the first half when they had a couple of chances, but in the second half we managed to control our game and we showed our quality. France are definitely the favourites, there is no hiding of that but we like that we love to be the underdogs from day one.

“We have a good opportunity to give them something back from 20 years ago when they reached the final and we can do it. I was nine. I remember my mum was screaming and crying after the French game. Maybe it’s our time for revenge. It's gonna be a tough game, it will be difficult.”