Dejan Lovren – who was sold by Liverpool in 2020 – shone live on BBC Sport as Croatia defeat Brazil to reach the World Cup Semi-Final.
The 33-year-old played the entire 120 minutes as a 117th minute equaliser from Bruno Petkovic took the game to penalties, after Neymar thought he had won it with a 106th minute strike to put Brazil 1-0 up.
After that goal from the PSG No.10, Alex Scott noticed Lovren do something interesting.
What’s the story?
Well, Lovren – who Liverpool sold to Zenit St Petersburg in a £10.9m deal – was “the only one” trying to motivate his teammates after Neymar’s strike, while others sunk to the turf in disappointment.
Speaking on BBC Sport at half-time of extra-time, the 38-year-old said: “I’ve circled Lovren’s name on my paper as he was the only one trying to get his teammates going after that goal from Neymar, using his experience and leadership qualities.”
The Zenit St Petersburg captain’s efforts to rally his teammates certainly paid off, as they found a new lease of life in the second half of extra-time.
The aforementioned equaliser from Petkovic took Croatia to a second consecutive penalty shootout following their Round of 16 win over Japan, and they overcame Brazil thanks to strikes from Nikola Vlasic, Lovro Majer, Luka Modric and Mislav Orsic, winning the shootout 4-2 after misses from Rodrygo Goes and Marquinhos.
Dejan Lovren epitomises Liverpool spirit
It has been more than two years since Jürgen Klopp sold Lovren, but the Croatia international evidently still carries the spirit which every Liverpool player seems to gain under the German.
While playing under the 55-year-old, Lovren was part of a squad who overturned a 3-0 deficit to Barcelona in the Champions League Semi-Final to win the tie by a 4-3 scoreline back in 2019.
The Zenit St Petersburg No.6 watched on from the bench that day, but he was far more involved in another comeback win under Klopp back in 2016, as Liverpool beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 at Anfield to reach the Europa League Semi-Final.
Liverpool needed three goals within 25 minutes to progress, and after getting two of them through Philippe Coutinho and Mamadou Sakho, it was Lovren who rose highest to nod home James Milner’s cross in the 91st minute and win the tie.
Clearly, the spirit of Liverpool and Klopp has not left him, as the Croatian colossus inspired his country to a phenomenal win over Brazil.
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