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Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah and Luka Modric are all struggling following summer World Cup, says Dejan Lovren

Dejan Lovren (left) and Harry Kane challenge for the ball during Friday's goalless draw in Croatia - Action Images via Reuters
Dejan Lovren (left) and Harry Kane challenge for the ball during Friday's goalless draw in Croatia - Action Images via Reuters

Dejan Lovren has claimed all of Europe’s top stars – including England striker Harry Kane – are suffering from post-World Cup exhaustion.

Kane is aiming to end a six-game England goalscoring drought against Spain in Seville, having failed to make a breakthrough against Lovren’s Croatia on Friday night.

England manager Gareth Southgate has backed his captain, while Kane has insisted he is not feeling tired.

But Lovren pointed to his Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah, who has left the Egypt squad with a muscle injury, and his Croatia colleague Luka Modric as evidence that the top players are struggling to find their best form after the World Cup.

Asked if he thought Kane looked jaded against Croatia, Lovren replied: “You can’t say that on just one game. Maybe yes, maybe no. It is not only him. A lot of Croatian players are all exhausted emotionally.

“It is the same for England, trying to get over not going to the final. They felt these emotions about how the fans would react in England. It really wasn’t easy. Then you have such a short period of rest. It is not so easy to adapt straight away.

“I definitely feel different to how I normally would, 100 per cent. It just isn’t the same if you haven’t started from day one in pre-season. I haven’t even had a pre-season with my team. The most important thing is to get your form, but all the players [who went to the World Cup] are having this period of adaptation. Even Luka [Modric] said to me he is struggling.”

On the subject of how long it will take Kane, Salah and Modric to get back to their best, central defender Lovren added: “I don’t know. Everyone is struggling, even Salah. It takes so much out of you, emotionally and physically. Eventually they will get their best form, but it will take time.”