CROATIA may have sensationally secured a silver medal at the World Cup in Russia, but there’s one member of their team who turned down the silverware.
Nikola Kalinic has admitted that he doesn’t deserve the runners-up medal after his dramatic exit from the tournament.
Getty - Contributor Kalinic was awarded a silver medal, despite not playing a minute during the tournament- but the striker refused to accept it[/caption]
Graciously, Kalinic’s team-mates and back-room staff awarded the 30-year-old with the medal despite him not even featuring during the tournament.
Which was reportedly over the striker’s reluctance to come on as a substitute against Nigeria- he was subsequently sent packing.
The AC Milan player is reported by Sportske Novosti to have said: “Thanks for the medal, but I did not play in Russia.”
Getty - Contributor Kalinic arrived in Russia much more composed than the way he departed[/caption]
Zlatko Dalic lost his patience with KalinicGetty - Contributor
Kalinic’s refusal to come on as a substitute was put down to a back injury, despite the fact that the striker had already been warming up in the second half.
Head coach Dalic eventually lost patience with the ex-Blackburn player having experienced a similar disagreement with him in a training session and in a World Cup warm-up game against Brazil.
The dramatic end to the Croatian’s World Cup campaign reportedly started over his frustration at finding himself warming the bench for the fourth successive international fixture.
Lack of game time during the World Cup and a well-publicised exit could well impact Kalinic’s future with AC Milan.
EPA Kalinic’s departure from the World Cup, left Croatia with just one striker option- but they managed pretty well without him[/caption]
The national side managed an impressive campaign without Kalinic and created history by reaching their county’s first ever final.
They came out on top of Group D, before defeating both Denmark and Russia on penalties.
Croatia then ended Gareth Southgate’s dreams of a World Cup final by beating England 2-1 in extra time.
They then came up against a formidable French side and lost 4-2 in a thrilling final, in Moscow.
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