Croatia boss makes complaint after England win dramatic World Cup match
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has complained his side conceded "disastrous" goals against England despite spending time preparing for the Three Lions' set-piece routines ahead of their World Cup opener.Thomas Tuchel's men made the perfect start to Group L with a pulsating 4-2 victory in Texas, recovering from twice being pegged back to secure all three points.Harry Kane struck twice for England, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also found the net after an inspired second-half display.Croatia, however, were left ruing defensive lapses from dead-ball situations, with Dalic insisting his players failed to carry out instructions they had worked on before the match.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour Say"Allow me first to congratulate England on the win," the Croatia manager said."It was quite a strange game, quite a difficult game, as we expected it to be."In the first half, we played quite well. We really did good saves and we actually kept to everything we agreed on, but unfortunately we knew that the set-pieces were the greatest danger, and we conceded two goals after a corner."Dalic admitted Croatia had been fully aware of England's strengths from dead-ball situations but still could not prevent Kane heading home from a Declan Rice corner."Until now we were quite good in the set-pieces," he said."We did not concede goals that easily and we practised for this opponent."We knew England's way of play, we knew that they're making a block and we failed to do what we practised."After the first corner, we concede a goal. After the second set-piece, a player just jumps in and scores again, so it was disastrous for us, specifically when it comes to a team such as England."LATEST SPORTS NEWS:Thomas Tuchel left furious after national anthem incident in England World Cup win over CroatiaCristiano Ronaldo was finished at the last World Cup and Portugal have bowed to him for too longThomas Tuchel spotted having heated row with England star during World Cup victory over CroatiaThe Croatian also suggested England are the most dangerous team at the World Cup when it comes to scoring from set-pieces."They are strongest when it comes to goals from set-pieces," Dalic added."About 40 per cent of their goals are from set-pieces. We analysed that game, we knew that."We must be much, much better than we were today in our performance."England had gone into half-time level at 2-2 after Petar Musa cancelled out Kane's second goal moments before the interval.But Tuchel's side emerged transformed after the restart, with Bellingham restoring England's lead before substitute Rashford wrapped up victory late on.The England manager was delighted with the response from his players following a nervy opening 45 minutes."I loved the second half. All of it," Tuchel said. "I loved the reaction to a very complicated first half."We encouraged them to go for it, to play with more courage, to be brave, to be ourselves and, like I said, I loved the reaction."We created a lot of chances, we had a lot of ball wins, we scored goals and overall I think we deserve to win."England now turn their attention to Ghana, while Croatia face mounting pressure ahead of their second Group L fixture with Panama. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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