Former Liverpool and Premier League defender Dejan Lovren is establishing himself as ‘one of the best football players’ on the planet at the Qatar World Cup, fellow Croatian Danijel Miskic tells Sport24.
There were more raised eyebrows than a Carlo Ancelotti compilation when Lovren claimed, following Croatia’s run to the final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, that he should be regarded as one of the finest centre-halves around (Sky Sports).
Lovren, after all, didn’t have a particularly glowing reputation on English soil at the time. While outstanding for his country, the one-time Southampton and Lyon stopper was more error-prone than elite at Liverpool; some high-profile mistakes lingering in the mind.
Four years on, however, the now-Zenit St Petersburg-based Lovren looks like a footballer ageing like the finest bottle of Plavac Mali; excellent alongside the phenomenal Josko Gvardiol as Croatia knocked pre-tournament favourites Brazil out at the quarter-final stage on Friday night.
And, as far as Miskic is concerned, there can be no doubts now that Lovren belongs amongst the Virgil van Dijks of the world.
Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren shone as Croatia beat Brazil in Qatar World Cup
“He has now shown what a cool and crazy football player (he is),” says the former Croatia youth ace who, like Lovren, currently plies his trade in Russia.
“He is a leader on the field. Everyone saw what a great player he is. He is one of the best football players in the world. His performances show that Russia has a high level of football, because the man is the captain of Zenit.”
Lovren joined the perennial Russian champions back in 2020 for a fee of £10 million. The veteran defender has won a league and cup double in both of his seasons in St Petersburg so far. But a World Cup winners’ medal would undoubtedly be the crowning moment of an often-underrated career at the top level.
Croatia will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
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