England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

• Ground:Wembley Stadium
• Capacity:90,000

Croatia claim injury conspiracy

01 Sep 2009 - 08:16:09

Click To Enlarge

England and the Premier League have come under fire from the Croatian Football Federation following the string of injuries suffered by their leading players.

Croatian football president Vlatko Markovic has launched an attack on English football in the build-up to next weekend's England versus Croatia World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

Markovic has suggested that Croatian players are being deliberately targeted in Premier League games to ensure they can not play international football.

He has spoken out after seeing playmaker Luka Modric ruled out for three months with a broken leg suffered during Tottenham's clash with Birmingham City at the weekend.

Twelve months ago, star striker Eduardo missed the first qualifying meeting between the sides after suffering a horrific broken leg and dislocated ankle injury while playing for Arsenal also against Birmingham.

"It is terrible what has happened to us. Maybe someone has something against us and our national team," said Markovic.

"In the past year, they have injured Eduardo and now the same has happened to Luka Modric.

"I can only ask whether it's a coincidence or whether someone did it deliberately on the eve of a game with England.

"Modric is our most important player. He is to us what Andres Iniesta is to Barcelona.

"Without him, our chances of an upset are very much decreased."