Milner rejects Croat kicking allegations
Thursday, 3 September 2009
WATFORD, England, Sept 2 (AFP): England winger James Milner has ruled out conspiracy theories that Croatia midfielder Luka Modric was deliberately injured ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier at Wembley next week.
Croatia FA chiefs are frustrated that key midfielder Modric broke a leg in a tackle with Birmingham's Lee Bowyer just 10 days before a match against England that could decide the World Cup fate of both teams.
They already have bitter memories of how key striker Eduardo also suffered a broken leg playing against the same opposition for Arsenal in February 2008 and Croatia FA supremo Vlatko Markovic on Tuesday said: "First Eduardo, now Luka Modric. This is horrible. I can only ask myself if it was really an accident.
"I'm close to thinking it was done to us deliberately before the England match. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what happened to Luka. He is irreplaceable."
But Markovic's claims have been quickly dismissed in Fabio Capello's camp with Aston Villa star Milner, speaking at England's team hotel in Watford, saying: "It's just bad luck, that's the way it is in football.
"People are making more of it but obviously it's nonsense. We just go out there and try and play as well as we can. You don't look at who you are tackling or anything like that when you are on the field.
"You don't think 'oh it's him, I'll go in hard on him.' You just are just trying to win the ball."
Far from being frightened of Modric, Milner would have relished facing the playmaker on September 9.
He added: "You've seen what a good player Modric has been since he's been in England, he makes Tottenham tick and it's the same at international level. He will be a big miss.
"But as players you want to play in the best competitions in the world against the best players.
"In a way it helps you if the best players arent there but also you want to challenge them. Thats what being a professional in any sport is all about."
Milner, 23, is hoping to make a big impact against Croatia and also against Slovenia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday, having finally made his debut in the recent draw in Holland after winning a record 46 caps at Under 21 level.
He showed great potential as a youngster, becoming the Premier Leagues youngest ever goalscorer at the age 16 years and 309 days - just three months after Wayne Rooney had set the previous record.
Croatia FA chiefs are frustrated that key midfielder Modric broke a leg in a tackle with Birmingham's Lee Bowyer just 10 days before a match against England that could decide the World Cup fate of both teams.
They already have bitter memories of how key striker Eduardo also suffered a broken leg playing against the same opposition for Arsenal in February 2008 and Croatia FA supremo Vlatko Markovic on Tuesday said: "First Eduardo, now Luka Modric. This is horrible. I can only ask myself if it was really an accident.
"I'm close to thinking it was done to us deliberately before the England match. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what happened to Luka. He is irreplaceable."
But Markovic's claims have been quickly dismissed in Fabio Capello's camp with Aston Villa star Milner, speaking at England's team hotel in Watford, saying: "It's just bad luck, that's the way it is in football.
"People are making more of it but obviously it's nonsense. We just go out there and try and play as well as we can. You don't look at who you are tackling or anything like that when you are on the field.
"You don't think 'oh it's him, I'll go in hard on him.' You just are just trying to win the ball."
Far from being frightened of Modric, Milner would have relished facing the playmaker on September 9.
He added: "You've seen what a good player Modric has been since he's been in England, he makes Tottenham tick and it's the same at international level. He will be a big miss.
"But as players you want to play in the best competitions in the world against the best players.
"In a way it helps you if the best players arent there but also you want to challenge them. Thats what being a professional in any sport is all about."
Milner, 23, is hoping to make a big impact against Croatia and also against Slovenia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday, having finally made his debut in the recent draw in Holland after winning a record 46 caps at Under 21 level.
He showed great potential as a youngster, becoming the Premier Leagues youngest ever goalscorer at the age 16 years and 309 days - just three months after Wayne Rooney had set the previous record.