After serving the Croatian team for 13 and a half years, Dejan Lovren confirmed his retirement from the international level.

The centre-back featured in every game in his side’s unexpected run to the 2018 World Cup final, where they were beaten 4-2 by France, earning 78 caps for his country during that time and tallying five goals in the process.

The seasoned defender, who has made 563 appearances for club and country, made his international debut in an exhibition match against Qatar in October 2009, which Slaven Bilic’s team went on to win 3-2.

In a strange turn of events, his final international appearance for his nation took place in Qatar, although it resulted in a 3-0 loss to eventual World Cup champions Argentina in the 2022 tournament’s semifinals, with the former Liverpool star faltering at the back.

In an open letter to his fans, Lovren called his decision to hang up his boots for his nation “somber news” and discussed the emotions he had experienced.

As a spokesperson of the Vatreni, he also urged young supporters to “look up to” the Croatian squad as “your superheroes” in his final message.

‘I want to address you today with some somber news, but believe me, the decision that I am about to announce is one that I made with an open heart and a lot of consideration,’ the ex-Liverpool star began.

‘This announcement does not come easily to me, and while I am writing this letter, I am doing my best not to cry, but I hope by now you have come to know me as a man with heart and a man that does not hide his emotions.

‘The time has come for me to say my final goodbye to the Croatian national team, though I will remain a huge supporter of the Vetrani and will follow the team in each coming match.’

He added: ‘I want to tell every single young football player in the country that they must look at the Croatian national team as a completely other dimension of football – look at these players as your superheroes.’

With 19 international appearances under his belt, Lovren ranks 19th all-time in Croatian history and was an integral part of one of their most successful teams.

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Lovren not only won silver in the 2018 competition, but he also played a key role in the defense for the team that won bronze in Qatar in 2022 after defeating Morocco in the third-place play-off.

Throughout his time with the Vetrani, Lovren represented his country at four different World Cups, as well as the postponed 2020 European Championships, when his team was eliminated in the round of 16.

He thanked each of his past coaches after describing his delight in donning the renowned red-and-white check shirt and his belief that he had committed several mistakes in his early years with the squad.

But he singled out the past five years with Croatia as his most fondly-remembered, adding: ‘The most beautiful chapters of my national team story were the ones that we wrote in the past five years. This is, if I’m being honest, still a complete dream to me. 

‘So many emotions went through me, especially in 2018 and 2022, and I find it difficult to put these experiences into words. 

‘I lived my life in hope that I would get to experience moments like those, and when they did come, I lived them with immense pride. These memories will remain in my heart forever.’

He also offered a word to his team-mates, adding: ‘I want to thank all of my former and current team-mates on this beautiful, unforgettable journey. We had our ups and downs, we cried together and we celebrated together, and I’ll always carry you in my heart. 

‘I spent more than a decade playing with some of you. I see you as my brothers, and you stood by me in my toughest moments. Thank you.‘

The 33-year-old currently turns out for French side Lyon, having arrived from Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg – who he joined after the end of his successful spell at Liverpool in 2020.

Lovren won the Champions League, Premier League, and UEFA Supercup at Anfield, but he never took home a trophy for his nation.

In addition to Luka Modric, Mario Mandzukic, Darijo Srna, Ivan Rakitic, Mateo Kovacic, and Ivan Perisic, Lovren was a member of one of Croatia’s best generations of players.

He departs a side that has the likely long and successful career of Josko Gvardiol to look forward to, with the RB Leipzig star set to feature for Croatia for at least the next decade, aged just 21.

Lovren ended his announcement with a call for his national teammates to pull together and continue to show the unity ‘that sets us apart from everyone else’.

‘I’d like to say one more thing – I might be stepping down as a player, but at least you’re gaining a new fan. Let’s stick by each other’s side like we have so far, because the unity among us has always been the one quality that sets us apart from everyone else – it is our greatest strength.

‘From the bottom of my heart, thank you,’ he concluded.

Thank you @HNS_CFF for everything!

Forever in my heart. ❤️🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/GSebjeEKK8

— Dejan Lovren (@Dejan06Lovren) February 23, 2023

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Following a disappointing 0-0 draw against Croatia on Thursday, Belgium was eliminated from the World Cup.

Roberto Martinez’s side needed a win against the 2018 World Cup finalists to progress past the group stage, but they were unable to find the back of the net.

Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ were knocked out of the World Cup as a 0-0 draw with Croatia sent the 2018 runners-up into the last 16 with Group F winners Morocco. Romelu Lukaku hit a post and missed a number of opportunities.

In third place four years ago and number two in the world rankings until recently, Roberto Martinez’s team struggled to keep up in Qatar. Despite a second-half improvement that gave Romelu Lukaku several scoring opportunities, they were unable to secure the victory they required as Morocco defeated Canada.

Captain Eden Hazard was dropped for the start of the match, and Romelu Lukaku came on to miss four big chances as Belgium’s World Cup journey came to a disappointing end.

Croatia advances to the round of 16, but only after finishing in second place in the group behind Morocco, which defeated Canada 2-1 to take the first position.

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Ivan Perisic’s attempt went over the crossbar in the first 20 seconds as Croatia took control from the opening whistle.

After 14 minutes, Belgium immediately counterattacked, but Dries Mertens was unable to reach the goal following a superb through ball from Kevin de Bruyne.

After less than a minute, Yannick Carrasco was found to have fouled Andrej Kramaric inside the penalty area, earning Croatia a penalty.

Referee Anthony Taylor was sent to the monitor by the VAR as Luka Modric was getting ready to take the penalty kick, and the decision was reversed for an offside throughout the buildup.

The rest of the half turned out to be a tense affair, but the game came to life after the break.

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was called into action early on and prevented Croatia on three separate occasions.

Lukaku was brought on in the second half, and the Inter Milan striker missed two big chances in quick succession.

Lukaku was the quickest to react to a rebound just after the hour mark, and he was able to hit the post from close range with the goalie out of position.

With the goal at his disposal, the striker then headed another easy attempt over the bar.

The striker continued to miss two additional open goals as Croatia held off late attempts from Belgium. Lukaku’s night was not good.

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Tottenham Hotspur secured their place in the Champions League knockout stages with a 2-1 victory at Marseille on a tense evening in France.

Spurs just needed a point to guarantee progress, but a win for Marseille would have been enough to take Igor Tudor’s side into the last 16.

The home team was dominating the first half and gained the lead soon before halftime, which worried Antonio Conte, who was watching from the stands because he was suspended.

Tottenham struggled to have any impact on the game at all in the first half due to how lopsided it was in favour of the home team.

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Clement Lenglet emerged as the unlikely hero to score a header from an Ivan Perisic free-kick just nine minutes after the half to help the visitors recover.

With Marseille needing a goal it made for a tense remainder of the contest, but the Premier League side hung on for the result which guaranteed progression, despite former Arsenal man Sead Kolasinac having a golden chance for Marseille late on, which he spurned.

It looked like it would be a draw until the final kick of the game when Pierre-Emile Hojberg sealed the top spot in the group with a breakaway goal. Eintracht Frankfurt’s win at Sporting meant that the German side go through in second, with Spurs top.

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