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Zlatko Dalic admits football is coming home after Croatia are beaten by England

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Zlatko Dalic was impressed with Englands display against Croatia (Getty Images)

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic joked that football is coming home for England after they beat his side 2-1 at Wembley.

Ultimately, Gareth Southgates side managed to reverse the scoreline from the World Cup semi-final in Russia, although they left it late to secure a victory that meant they topped their UEFA Nations League group ahead of Spain.

A goal against the run of play from Andrej Kramaric put the Croatians in front at Wembley but close-range strikes from Jesse Lingard and Harry Kane near the end ensured that England finished 2018 on a high.

Following defeat to England, Croatia were relegated from League A after finishing third in the group but Dalic was magnanimous in defeat, suggesting that England deserved to win while admitting the future looks promising for Southgates men.

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“They have a young and fast team. Its coming home, very soon,” he said. “I think England showed already at the World Cup. They, I think, exceeded expectations. They have a really young and very fast team, which is very important in modern football.

“Id like to congratulate England on a deserved win and for qualifying for the final four of the Nations League.

“We didnt play very well in the first half. We were lucky to get into half-time at 0-0. In the second half we played better and had a few chances after scoring but we conceded from two set-pieces. Set-pieces are part of the game so its a fair result in the end.”

David Baddiel and Frank Skinners 1996 hit Footballs coming home became the soundtrack to Englands unexpected march to the World Cup semi-finals as supporters back home and in Russia started to believe that a first tournament win since 1966 was possible.

However, while the slogan was uttered more in jest than expectation by most supporters, many Croatia players, including captain Luka Modric, insisted that it demonstrated a lack of respect towards the Croatian team and that they had been underestimated.

It seems as though Dalic wasnt too concerned about it after the game at Wembley, though, as his comments were certainly intended in a complimentary manner.

England will compete in the Nations League semi-finals next June against the three other League A group winners.