World Cup: Nude Croatians | FIFA | England physio

World Cup gossip you might have missed, including the Croatian team’s naked swim, FIFA TV bosses denying a ‘Blatter black-out’ and England’s physio injures himself celebrating a goal

The Croatian team (fully clothed) applaud their fans after the match with Brazil. Picture: Getty

Croatian anger laid bare after nude swimming pictures published

CROATIA’S players are refusing to talk to World Cup reporters after photos were published of them bathing nude in the team’s swimming pool, coach Niko Kovac said last night.

Two photographers hid in the nearby bushes and took the pictures which were published by online media.

“I can’t force them to be at your disposal after what you have done to them and their families,” an angry Kovac told reporters in the team’s Praia do Forte training base.

“How would you feel if someone took naked pictures of you? They are adamant that they won’t speak to you any more and I don’t know whether the silence will end tomorrow or last until the end of our World Cup campaign. I respect my players’ opinion and I also know that you have done a very professional job so far but you blew it with this one. The whole world has seen the photos.”

Croatia next play Cameroon in Manaus on Wednesday.

FIFA TV deny Blatter black-out

FIFA’S TV bosses have denied keeping images of Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Brazil president Dilma Rousseff off screens. The crowd at the Corinthians arena booed and jeered Rousseff when a shot of her cheering one of Brazil’s goals in their 3-1 win over Croatia was briefly shown on the big screen inside the stadium.

This World Cup was noticeable for the fact there was no opening speech by either the country’s president or Blatter before the start of tournament. Asked whether it was a policy not to show their images, head of FIFA TV Niclas Ericson said: “The production team are focusing on what is happening on the pitch, therefore the focus is on the football.”

England physio fractures and dislocates ankle celebrating goal

ENGLAND physio Gary Lewin bizarrely became the first member of the camp to be ruled out of the World Cup.

He is to fly home after fracturing and dislocating his ankle when tripping on a water bottle while celebrating Daniel Sturridge’s goal.

Shortly after the Liverpool striker nabbed the equaliser, cameras focused on the stricken physio who was lying on the ground while being tended to by medical staff.