• Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, centre, celebrates scoring from the penalty spot in the Nations League, League A Group 1 match against France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris on June 13, 2022. Croatia won the match 1-0. AFP
    Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, centre, celebrates scoring from the penalty spot in the Nations League, League A Group 1 match against France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris on June 13, 2022. Croatia won the match 1-0. AFP
  • Croatia midfielder Luka Modric scores from the penalty spot against France. AFP
    Croatia midfielder Luka Modric scores from the penalty spot against France. AFP
  • Croatia midfielder Luka Modric is mobbed by teammates. AFP
    Croatia midfielder Luka Modric is mobbed by teammates. AFP
  • France forward Karim Benzema argues with referee Orel Grinfeld after the official awarded Croatia a penalty. AFP
    France forward Karim Benzema argues with referee Orel Grinfeld after the official awarded Croatia a penalty. AFP
  • Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - Group A - France v Croatia - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - June 13, 2022 Croatia's Luka Modric celebrates after the match REUTERS / Gonzalo Fuentes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
    Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - Group A - France v Croatia - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - June 13, 2022 Croatia's Luka Modric celebrates after the match REUTERS / Gonzalo Fuentes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
  • Croatia supporters celebrate their team's victory at the end of the UEFA Nations League - League A Group 1 football match between France and Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris on June 13, 2022. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
    Croatia supporters celebrate their team's victory at the end of the UEFA Nations League - League A Group 1 football match between France and Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris on June 13, 2022. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
  • France goalkeeper Mike Maignan throws the ball. AFP
    France goalkeeper Mike Maignan throws the ball. AFP
  • France forward Christopher Nkunku speaks with Croatia forward Josip Brekalo. AFP
    France forward Christopher Nkunku speaks with Croatia forward Josip Brekalo. AFP
  • Croatia forward Ante Budimir kicks the ball. AFP
    Croatia forward Ante Budimir kicks the ball. AFP
  • France forwards Karim Benzema, left, and Kylian Mbappe. AFP
    France forwards Karim Benzema, left, and Kylian Mbappe. AFP
  • France forward Karim Benzema jumps for the ball past Croatia defender Josip Sutalo. AFP
    France forward Karim Benzema jumps for the ball past Croatia defender Josip Sutalo. AFP
  • Croatia's Josip Sutalo, left, duels for the ball with France's Kylian Mbappe. AP Photo
    Croatia's Josip Sutalo, left, duels for the ball with France's Kylian Mbappe. AP Photo
  • France's Kylian Mbappe in action with Croatia's Luka Modric. Reuters
    France's Kylian Mbappe in action with Croatia's Luka Modric. Reuters
  • France's Adrien Rabiot and Croatia's Luka Modric. AFP
    France's Adrien Rabiot and Croatia's Luka Modric. AFP
  • France's Aurelien Tchouameni. AFP
    France's Aurelien Tchouameni. AFP

Zlatko Dalic hails Croatia's 'extraordinary' Nations League win in France


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Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said his players overcame an "inferiority complex" against world champions France, describing his side's Nations League win as "extraordinary".

Luka Modric's early penalty gave Croatia a 1-0 win over off-form France in Paris as the World Cup holders finished their June run of matches without a victory in four games.

Veteran Croatia captain Modric stroked in his spot-kick after just five minutes at the Stade de France, and the home side could not find an equaliser despite Kylian Mbappe returning to join Karim Benzema in the starting line-up.

"We had an inferiority complex against France after their win in the World Cup and so to win at the Stade de France in front of almost 80,000 people against the world champions is extraordinary," said Dalic.

France, winners of last year's Nations League, picked up just two points this time around, with home defeats against Denmark and now Croatia sandwiching draws away to the Croats and Austria.

As a result, Les Bleus are bottom of League A, Group 1, seven points behind leaders Denmark who beat Austria 2-0 in Copenhagen on Monday.

Croatia's Luka Modric celebrates after the match. Reuters
Croatia's Luka Modric celebrates after the match. Reuters

Didier Deschamps' team may now need to win their last two group games in September to avoid being relegated to the less glamorous League B.

Those matches are also the only games they have left before they begin their defence of the World Cup against Australia in Qatar in November.

"It is not an excuse but in this get-together we have lacked strength, energy and character too," said Deschamps.

"It hurts because we have not managed to win a game. Maybe I didn't have the usual energy to transmit to them either.

"We will need everyone at the start of next season to be in the right frame of mind and in the right athletic condition."

The last raft of Nations League matches before the curtain comes down on the European season will take place on Tuesday, when Germany take on Italy in Monchengladbach in the standout game.

Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):

1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop

2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia -  £25m: Flop

3). Erik Lamela - Roma -  £25m: Jury still out

4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen -  £25m: Success

5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic -  £21m: Flop

6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar -  £18m: Flop

7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers -  £18m: Flop

8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb -  £17m: Success

9). Paulinho - Corinthians -  £16m: Flop

10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham -  £16m: Success

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Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20has%20been%20moored%20off%20the%20Yemeni%20coast%20of%20Ras%20Issa%20since%201988.%3Cbr%3EThe%20Houthis%20have%20been%20blockading%20UN%20efforts%20to%20inspect%20and%20maintain%20the%20vessel%20since%202015%2C%20when%20the%20war%20between%20the%20group%20and%20the%20Yemen%20government%2C%20backed%20by%20the%20Saudi-led%20coalition%20began.%3Cbr%3ESince%20then%2C%20a%20handful%20of%20people%20acting%20as%20a%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ae%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiw2OfUuKr4AhVBuKQKHTTzB7cQFnoECB4QAQ%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.thenationalnews.com%252Fworld%252Fmena%252Fyemen-s-floating-bomb-tanker-millions-kept-safe-by-skeleton-crew-1.1104713%26usg%3DAOvVaw0t9FPiRsx7zK7aEYgc65Ad%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Eskeleton%20crew%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20have%20performed%20rudimentary%20maintenance%20work%20to%20keep%20the%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20intact.%3Cbr%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20is%20connected%20to%20a%20pipeline%20from%20the%20oil-rich%20city%20of%20Marib%2C%20and%20was%20once%20a%20hub%20for%20the%20storage%20and%20export%20of%20crude%20oil.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%E2%80%99s%20environmental%20and%20humanitarian%20impact%20may%20extend%20well%20beyond%20Yemen%2C%20experts%20believe%2C%20into%20the%20surrounding%20waters%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia%2C%20Djibouti%20and%20Eritrea%2C%20impacting%20marine-life%20and%20vital%20infrastructure%20like%20desalination%20plans%20and%20fishing%20ports.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

Scores:

Day 4

England 290 & 346
Sri Lanka 336 & 226-7 (target 301)

Sri Lanka require another 75 runs with three wickets remaining

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Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29

Updated: June 14, 2022, 6:40 AM