Croatia get inside track on World Cup hosts Russia from former Tottenham star Vedran Corluka

Former Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka is understood to be masterminding Croatia’s tactics for tomorrow’s quarter-final against Russia here in Sochi.

Corluka has played for Lokomotiv Moscow since leaving Spurs in 2012 and the right-back has a keen understanding of Russian football and the national team.

The 32-year-old has discussed tactics with coach Zlatko Dalic and briefed his team-mates on Russia’s strengths and weaknesses and what to expect from the hosts at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.

Croatia have left their idyllic countryside base two hours from St Petersburg and are training next to Sochi airport.

Some members of the camp have wondered if they have been put in the noisy setting deliberately to unsettle them ahead of their meeting with the hosts.

Liverpool centre-half Dejan Lovren says the current squad is aiming to outdo Croatia’s Class of ’98, who reached the semi-final in France 20 years ago this week after crushing favourites Germany 3-0 in the quarter-finals.

“I was in Munich and remember my mum screaming with joy every time Croatia scored. That’s my main memory from that time,” he said.

“Of course, the current team respects that generation, the biggest successes to date. They set the bar so high that the team hasn’t been able to top that. We have a chance to outdo the generation of ’98 with luck and hard work.”

Lovren was left out of the squad for Euro 2016 after a row with former coach Ante Cacic but his performances here have made amends for that. “The last two years have been a real rollercoaster, with lots of ups and downs. I’m sad to have missed Euro 2016 but I hope I’ve made things right in the last few games,” he said.