SHRIMPERS LIVING LIFE ON THE EDGE

WHEN the memes were flying during England’s heady charge to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, nobody took them seriously.

- CHRIS DUNLAVY

The cast of Friends dancing to Three Lions. Caesar from Planet of the Apes whispering ‘It’s coming home’. All good, harmless fun.

Except in Croatia, where a combination of cultural confusion and wilful misunderstanding prompted their players – much like the Germans in 1996 – to construe the videos as presumptive and disrespectful.

No footballer requires an added incentive to reach a World Cup final, of course. But as a visibly riled Luka Modric explained after Croatia had beaten England 2-1 in the last four, our national triumphalism had certainly given him one.

“English journalists, pundits from television – they underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake,” said the Real Madrid midfielder. “They should be more humble and respect their opponents more.”

On the eve of the final, Ivan Rakitic gave an even more explicit explanation when he was asked if Croatia had been motivated by a perceived lack of respect. “Well, we all saw ‘Football’s Coming Home’,” he told The Guardian.