Luka Modric wrote this Tuesday in Zagreb a new chapter of a football encyclopedia that will last, at least, until the next Euro Cup. The one from Zadar led Croatia to a tight victory against Armenia (1-0) which seals their eighth participation in a major national team tournament. It will be his fourth European Championship, to which are added three World Cups and a final phase of the Nations League. Twice Modric was one step away from lifting Croatia’s first title at the senior national team level. In Germany he will have a new opportunity.
In the history of Croatia there is a before and after Modric. Previously, the Balkan team had already presented credentials of quality and talent in the France World Cup 1998. Third place for the team led by Davor Sugar and with footballers of the stature of Boban, Prosinecki about Jarna It was the first knock of the young country, independent since 1991. That success in France did not continue in Euro 2000 or in the World Cup. 2002, 2006 y 2010, for which he did not qualify. There was, however, a green shoot at Euro 2008, in which Croatia reached the quarterfinals. In the first match of the group stage, a certain Modric scored the winning goal against Austria. His team surpassed in the league Germanybut fell on penalties against Türkiye.
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Modric, who had debuted with his country’s senior team in 2006 but he only played 28 minutes in the World Cup that year, he was already Croatia’s leader in Brazil 2014. But his selection could not pass in that group stage event either, already with the Madrid player as the team’s beacon. However, it would be precisely at the World Championships where Luka would carve out his legend with Croatia. Especially in the quote of Russia 2018where he led his team to a historic runner-up. The Balkans overcame the three crosses in as many agonizing penalty shoot-outs, only to succumb to France in the final of the Luzhniki in Moscow. Modric was appointed the best player of the tournamentprelude to the biggest individual title of his career, the 2018 Ballon d’Oralso cementing the conquest of his fourth European Cup with Real Madrid.
In the next World Cup event, Modric, now a veteran, shone again with Croatia, which he led this time to third place. After eliminating Japan y Brazil in the crosses (again on penalties), fell in the semifinals against Argentinabut the group recovered and was able to overcome the surprising Morocco in the match for third place. That same year, but in the month of May (the World Cup in Qatar was played between November and December), Modric had once again been decisive in Madrid’s last great European conquest. the Fourteenth Champions Leagueafter another miraculous journey for the whites in the world’s top competition at club level.
The 10 of Madrid and Croatia still had a new opportunity to be the first captain to lead Croatia to the conquest of a major international title. It was in the Nations League Final Four disputed last summer in Netherlands. After defeating the hosts in the semifinals (a goal and two assists from Luka), the chess players fell in the decisive match against the Spain by Luis de la Fuente.
Apart from a heroic career leading a team from a country with less than four million inhabitants, Modric has completed a legendary career at Real Madrida club he joined in 2012. In white he has won cinco Champions, being one of the great architects of the white club’s second golden age in the European Cup. As a Madrid fan it adds up in total 23 titlesonly two less than Marcelo y Benzema and the same ones that Nacho and Paco Gent. A harvest that can increase this season, which culminates with the Euro in Germany, the last great challenge at the national team level for a cult footballer.
2023-11-22 15:51:58
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