DOHA —
Luka Modric is Croatia’s greatest-ever player,
but he was upstaged by arguably the best of all time, Lionel Messi, as
Argentina crushed his World Cup dreams in Qatar on Tuesday.
اضافة اعلان
After orchestrating his country’s run to a second straight
World Cup semifinal, 37-year-old Modric’s team were swept aside 3-0 by the
South American side.
Coach Zlatko Dalic boasted that Croatia — with Modric
supported by Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic — had “the best midfield in the
world” after their shock quarterfinal elimination of Brazil.
That midfield has enabled a nation of just under four
million to consistently compete with the world’s strongest teams, but they ran
out of steam against a combative Argentina.
“Argentina have an excellent team ... and today they had
four midfielders and closed the space and tried to play most of the game
there,” said Dalic.
Croatia had fallen behind in their win against Canada in the
group stage and overcame both Japan and Brazil in the knockout rounds on
penalties, having conceded the opening goal in both matches.
Few teams are as dogged or durable as
Croatia, but two goals
in five minutes, the first a penalty from Lionel Messi and the second a scruffy
Julian Alvarez strike, proved too great an obstacle to surmount.
Dalic had played down concerns of tiredness after going to
extra time in both the last 16 and quarterfinals, but there was a sense Croatia
had little left in the tank once Alvarez made it 2-0.
More Messi brilliance led to a second goal for Alvarez, and
Modric was withdrawn nine minutes from the end for Lovro Majer — receiving warm
applause from the capacity crowd of nearly 89,000.
Farewell?
Real Madrid midfielder Modric, who made his international
debut way back in 2006, is surely in the final phase of his brilliant career.
Croatia will play France or Morocco on Saturday in the third
place play-off. They are also through to the last four of the Nations League,
but that competition lacks the luster of the World Cup and may not be enough to
sway Modric to stay on.
The five-time Champions League winner, who has a record 161
caps for Croatia, will be almost 39 by the time
Euro 2024 rolls around.
“Perhaps this is the end of the World Cup generation for a
couple of them who have reached a certain age,” said Dalic, without specifying
names.
“It would have been excellent if they’d won the trophy as a
crowning moment.”
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has continued to catch the eye
in Qatar — his longevity is highlighted by the fact that Mario Mandzukic, a
year younger than Modric, is now part of the coaching staff.
It was Mandzukic’s goal that sent Croatia to the 2018 final.
On Tuesday, he was red-carded for protesting Argentina’s opener on a rare night
when Modric was unable to dictate the tempo or take his team any further.
“We’ve had a very good
World Cup and it’s never a punishment
to play for the national team,” said Modric.
“There’s a bronze at stake, so we need to be ready because
it’s a good result if we get it.”
Read more Sports
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
