Liverpool man was widely derided earlier in the season but having played a Champions League final now stands on the brink of being a World Cup holder
Deep inside the bowels of the Luzkniki Stadium, long past midnight, Dejan Lovren emerged with his head held high. A couple of hours earlier he’d shackled Harry Kane in the World Cup semi-final at the heart of the Croatia defence. For the third time in three knockout matches, Croatia had gone all the way. Three times they’d played extra-time. The only difference for the England game compared to Denmark and Russia before was that Mario Mandzukic struck late to make sure Croatia would avoid a third successive penalty shootout.