CROATIA EJECT VUKOJEVIC
FORMER Croatia international Ognjen Vukojevic has been kicked out of the World Cup semifinalists’ delegation after posting a proUkraine clip that caused a political row. The Croatian football association (HNS) said yesterday that Vukojevic had been “relieved from his duties as an expert associate of the Croatia squad and is no longer a member of the Croatian delegation at the World Cup”. FIFA later announced it had fined Vukojevic US$15,000 (RM60,000) and issued him with a warning over unsporting behaviour. Following the quarter-final win over host nation Russia, Vukojevic posted an Instagram video featuring him and Croatia defender Domagoj Vida, who shouted “Glory to Ukraine!” Vida used to play for Dynamo Kiev and Vukojevic also played for the Ukrainian club and now works for them as a scout. Vida issued a statement after the FIFA ruling calling the incident a misunderstanding. The player had earlier said the message was “just a joke”. ENGLAND captain Harry Kane is drawing inspiration from the country’s 1966 World Cup heroes as the striker looks to fire his team to a surprise final appearance in Moscow.
The Tottenham forward is the tournament’s leading scorer with six goals, putting him level with Gary Lineker’s 1986 haul, ahead of today’s semifinal against Croatia.
Kane became just the third England player to hit a World Cup hattrick in the 6-1 rout of Panama, joining Lineker and Geoff Hurst, the star of the 1966 final victory over West Germany.
Hurst believes Gareth Southgate’s side can match their finest hour and go all the way in Russia, and Kane admits the support from such England greats is further incentive to succeed.
“To meet any heroes from ‘66 is incredible. It’s so much inspiration. Obviously it’s been a long time since England have done well in a major tournament,” Kane said after the 2-0 quarterfinal win over Sweden.
“I’m proud to make ex-players proud and I’m sure it’s bringing back memories for them. We said we want to write our own history and hopefully we can go one step further and get to the final.”
England are through to the last four of the World Cup for the first time since 1990, when they lost to Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Turin.
“A lot of us weren’t even born when that was happening,” said the 24-year-old Kane.
“We’ve just got to try and keep it going, we’re one step closer to what is the biggest game as a professional.”
As World Cup fever mounts back home during a long summer heatwave, the country is hopeful of reaching a first final in more than half a century.
Kane is mindful of the influence he now wields as one of the game’s top stars, but the status is one he appears to embrace.
“As a player I know I have a job, on and off the pitch, to inspire people,” he said.
“To inspire kids watching this tournament is amazing because I was one of those kids growing up who wanted to play for England. So to be here, to be part of it, I’m so proud.” – AFP