The World Cup Loss “Struck Hard” Modric, and His Future With Croatia is Uncertain

Croatia’s veteran playmaker Luka Modric was “hit really hard” by his team’s defeat to According to Zlatko Dalic, the team’s manager, Argentina will face that nation in the World Cup semifinal on Tuesday.

As Argentina defeated Croatia 3-0 in the final four match to secure a spot in Sunday’s championship, the 37-year-old Modric made his 161st appearance for his nation.

It is unknown if Modric will continue to play for the national team after the World Cup as a result of Croatia’s defeat to Morocco on Saturday in the third-place playoff.

The 2018 Ballon D’Or and FIFA Golden Ball awards went to the 10-time Croatian footballer of the year, who led his country to the World Cup final before losing to France 4-2.

On Tuesday, Modric was substituted late in the second half to a standing ovation from Croatian and Argentine supporters. The Real Madrid midfielder hugged each of his teammates as he limped off the field, raising questions about whether it was a final farewell.

Dalic has made it known that he wants the current Croatian team, led by Modric, to stick together until the 2024 European Championships.

“We have had a great team, and this generation will finish off their career at Euro 2024”, Dalic said at a press conference on Tuesday. “We have the Nations League and an excellent generation who reached two semifinals”, he added.

In his 11 seasons with Real Madrid, Modric won five Champions League titles and three La Liga championships. He has also had significant success at the club level.

Dalic said that Modric would make the decision on international retirement “on his own” but added that “surely the whole world would miss him if he retires from the national team, and I hope he won’t decide to do that”.

“Luka Modric showed he is not only a great player, he’s a great professional, a great sportsman,” Dalic said.

Modric made a suggestion that he would like to remain at Real Madrid for an additional season early in the competition. Due to the club’s policy of only giving annual extensions to players over 30, his current contract is set to expire in the summer.

“Of course, I want to retire in Madrid; I’ve said that many times,” Modric said. “You can’t say anything for 100 percent, but that’s my idea, and it’s a dream for me.”

News source: aljazeera.com