MIND YOUR LANGUAGE
Fears stars will turn air blue in empty stadium
GARETH Southgate has warned TV companies to expect a night of bad language when England face Croatia in front of an empty stadium.
Sportsmail understands the manager advised his players to be aware of any profanities they use in tonight’s Nations League clash.
With the 8,000-seater Stadion HNK Rijeka virtually empty as Croatia complete a UEFA ban for having a swastika on their pitch during a Euro 2016 qualifier, TV cameras and microphones are likely to pick up players’ voices during the game.
No special measures are being put in place by broadcasters Sky for their pitch-side microphones and they are not planning to put a delay on coverage.
But despite Southgate’s warning, he accepts it may be difficult to prevent viewers hearing expletives from players in the heat of battle.
‘I think it’s for the television companies to decide where they put their microphones,’ he said. ‘So it’s something we can’t prepare for, other than training in the same sort of environment every day.’
Up to 500 England supporters are due in Rijeka despite the game being played behind closed doors — there are a number of vantage points around the stadium that would allow fans to watch the match, including a grass bank that rises behind one of the goals.
One local told Sportsmail that occupants of houses with a view of the pitch would allow in visiting fans — in return for payment.
It promises to be a vastly different experience to the World Cup semi-final between the teams in front of 78,000 spectators in Moscow in July, which Croatia won 2-1 in extra time.
Despite the anticipated lack of atmosphere this evening, there was no missing needle last night when Luka Modric reiterated his view that the English were guilty of arrogance with their Football’s
Coming Home song during the World Cup.
‘We felt a bit disrespected, not appreciated as much as we deserve,’ said the Real Madrid midfielder, with Zlatko Dalic’s side clearly anxious to reassert their superiority, coming into this game off the back of a 6-0 thrashing by Spain. ‘It was extra motivation for our team, even in a World Cup semi-final when you don’t need extra motivation.
‘That’s how we felt. That’s how I felt. Is that a problem for England? That’s something you have to answer yourself and analyse. We want to feel better about ourselves (after losing so heavily to Spain). We’ll see if England are better than they were during the World Cup.’
John Stones dismissed Modric’s views, arguing England’s players had always treated their opponents ‘with the utmost respect’.
Southgate nodded in agreement, suggesting Modric had failed to appreciate the self-deprecating humour that inspired the song.
Modric, named the world’s best player after his performances in Russia, believes his former Spurs colleague Harry Kane, who won the Golden Boot, now joins him in the top bracket of performers.
‘Look at the number of goals he’s scored for Tottenham,’ Modric said. ‘He’s taken them into the Premier League title race, which isn’t easy because other clubs are investing more money, and he’s proved himself to be one of the world’s best forwards.
‘If he continues to develop, he can achieve even more.’