Iv felt better
World Cup 2018: Croatia hero Ivan Rakitic was struck down in bed with fever the night before beating England
Barcelona star also blasts Three Lions for thinking they were already in the final before semi defeat
CROATIA hero Ivan Rakitic revealed he was struck down in bed with fever the night before orchestrating the World Cup semi-final win over England.
And he blasted the Three Lions for thinking they were already in the final before being humbled in extra-time - just as team-mate Luka Modric did too.
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The Barcelona star said he had a temperature of almost 39C - classed as a high fever - and had to find the strength just to get to his feet again.
His loss would have been a massive blow for boss Zlatko Dalic, whose creative midfielders have impressed so much in Russia.
But Rakitic, 30, insisted he would have done everything he could to be in the final.
He said: "Last night I had a fever, almost 39C.
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"I was lying in bed finding the strength to play and it was worth it.
"I would play a final without a leg if necessary."
Rakitic was key in the middle of the park alongside Real Madrid star Modric.
But it was Mario Mandzukic whose extra-time winner got Croatia to their first World Cup final.
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Kieran Trippier had put Gareth Southgate's side ahead after five minutes with a brilliant free-kick only for Ivan Perisic to level with a little over 20 minutes to go.
And Rakitic saw it as just deserts given all the hype around "it's coming home".
He added: "They [England] thought they were already in the final, with all the things uploaded on [social] networks.
"They can keep doing their stuff and we will play on Sunday."
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