Dejan Lovren believes he has established himself as one of the world’s best defenders and deserves to be shown more respect after helping Croatia into the World Cup final. The Liverpool centre back said that his country was thirsty for “revenge” over France in Moscow on Sunday as they seek to banish the memory of their semi-final defeat by the same nation 20 years ago.

Lovren has continued the excellent form he displayed in the second half of Liverpool’s season at the World Cup, including against England on Wednesday. Harry Kane was well marshalled by Croatia and Lovren took particular delight in responding to those who recalled the torrid time he had against Kane when Liverpool played Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley last October.

“It feels