Lovren mystery as he is called up by Croatia - 20/08/18 03:39 PM
Dejan Lovren mystery continues as Liverpool defender is called up to latest Croatia squad
Lovren, who is currently sidelined with a stomach problem, has been called up to Croatia's latest squad.
Dejan Lovren has been called up to the latest Croatia squad, despite the Liverpool defender currently suffering with an injury.
Lovren was an important member of a Croatia squad that went all the way to the World Cup final before falling to France 4-2 in Russia last month.
However, the centre-back has since revealed that he played for most of the tournament with a stomach issue, which exacerbated the problem and was likely to keep him sidelined for a month at Anfield.
And despite being unavailable for selection for Liverpool for the next few weeks, Lovren has still been named in Croatia's 18-man squad for upcoming friendlies with Portugal and Spain.
Zlatko Dalic's side play Portugal in Faro on September 6 before following up their Iberian tour with a meeting with Luis Enrique's La Roja in Elche five days later.
"Obviously he is not fit," said Klopp after last Sunday's 4-0 win over West Ham. "Last year, he already had a few problems with that (stomach problem) but obviously he could play, and he played really well, to be honest.
"His recovery days were always enough, he was in the next session again, it wasn't a problem. He didn't train a lot at the end of the season because we were more or less constantly playing, but he did play constantly.
"In the World Cup, he had three 120-minute games and it got worse, but for sure it will settle in the next one, two, three weeks I would say.
"In that time I would say for sure he can train already, but not the full programme. That will then take time.
"Again, it's something serious, but not that serious. It's not that we have to be afraid that it takes time or whatever. But at the moment he's not available."
Speaking about his injury earlier this month, Lovren revealed that he kept problem concealed in an effort to help Croatia become world champions.
�I cannot train at all because of stomach muscle issues,� said Lovren. �I am suffering a lot of pain and will see a specialist doctor in the Netherlands.
�When did I start to feel it? I felt it during the World Cup. I played with pain and those three games killed me. But who wouldn't play for Croatia at such a big tournament!
"After the World Cup finished, the pain increased. I can't even sit in my car without feeling it and to get out of the car hurts like hell!
"I'd always grit my teeth and play for Croatia, but now I am paying the price. But no price is too high for what we achieved in Russia."
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/fo...erpool-15050539
Lovren, who is currently sidelined with a stomach problem, has been called up to Croatia's latest squad.
Dejan Lovren has been called up to the latest Croatia squad, despite the Liverpool defender currently suffering with an injury.
Lovren was an important member of a Croatia squad that went all the way to the World Cup final before falling to France 4-2 in Russia last month.
However, the centre-back has since revealed that he played for most of the tournament with a stomach issue, which exacerbated the problem and was likely to keep him sidelined for a month at Anfield.
And despite being unavailable for selection for Liverpool for the next few weeks, Lovren has still been named in Croatia's 18-man squad for upcoming friendlies with Portugal and Spain.
Zlatko Dalic's side play Portugal in Faro on September 6 before following up their Iberian tour with a meeting with Luis Enrique's La Roja in Elche five days later.
"Obviously he is not fit," said Klopp after last Sunday's 4-0 win over West Ham. "Last year, he already had a few problems with that (stomach problem) but obviously he could play, and he played really well, to be honest.
"His recovery days were always enough, he was in the next session again, it wasn't a problem. He didn't train a lot at the end of the season because we were more or less constantly playing, but he did play constantly.
"In the World Cup, he had three 120-minute games and it got worse, but for sure it will settle in the next one, two, three weeks I would say.
"In that time I would say for sure he can train already, but not the full programme. That will then take time.
"Again, it's something serious, but not that serious. It's not that we have to be afraid that it takes time or whatever. But at the moment he's not available."
Speaking about his injury earlier this month, Lovren revealed that he kept problem concealed in an effort to help Croatia become world champions.
�I cannot train at all because of stomach muscle issues,� said Lovren. �I am suffering a lot of pain and will see a specialist doctor in the Netherlands.
�When did I start to feel it? I felt it during the World Cup. I played with pain and those three games killed me. But who wouldn't play for Croatia at such a big tournament!
"After the World Cup finished, the pain increased. I can't even sit in my car without feeling it and to get out of the car hurts like hell!
"I'd always grit my teeth and play for Croatia, but now I am paying the price. But no price is too high for what we achieved in Russia."
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/fo...erpool-15050539