World Cup

Davor Suker: 'England lucky to still be in 2018 World Cup'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 08 July 2018

Former Croatia striker Davor Suker claims that England are "lucky" to still be in the 2018 World Cup ahead of Wednesday's semi-final.

Former Croatia striker Davor Suker has claimed that England are "lucky" to still be in the 2018 World Cup.

The Three Lions booked their spot in the semi-finals of the competition with a 2-0 win over Sweden on Saturday afternoon.

Gareth Southgate's side needed a penalty shootout to overcome Colombia in the round of 16, however, and Suker has insisted that his nation's semi-final opponents at the 2018 World Cup are fortunate to still be in the competition.

However, Suker, who helped Croatia reach the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup, has credited the Three Lions for their improvement this summer.

"I watched England's game against Colombia at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow and you were lucky. Colombia had two chances to score to lead in the penalty shootout, so you were lucky," The Mirror quotes Suker as saying.

"But why lucky? Because you invested in a lot of forwards and that's what I liked, England at that moment. It's football, 11 against 11, 11 warriors. What I would like is the England from before, but now they are very strong and we have to respect them.

"But money isn't playing, Ferrari isn't playing, watches aren't playing, just 11 against 11 warriors in the World Cup. But I think - and I said the same before the game against Russia - it will be 50-50 against England."

Suker, who is the current president of the Croatian Football Federation, is his country's all-time leading scorer with 45 goals, and won the Golden Boot at the 1998 World Cup.