Luka Modric’s potentially last appearance ended with bronze as Croatia produced one of the narrow football scores of the weekend in the World Cup. Croatia’s victory ensured their third top-three finish at the World Cup after finishing second to France four years prior, but Morocco’s defeat deprived them of the chance to become the first African nation to take home a medal at the event.
The imposing 20-year-old center-back Gvardiol gave Croatia the lead with an amazing diving header in the seventh minute, finishing off an outstanding season. Achraf Dari nodded in from close range two minutes later as Morocco immediately recovered. In the 42nd minute, Croatia regained the lead thanks to Orsic’s first-time shot inside the area, which was deflected past Yassine Bounou of Morocco and in off the far post. Dominik Livakovic, the goalie for Croatia, denied Youssef En-Nesyri in the closing seconds to ensure they won their second World Cup bronze medal after doing so in 1998.
If Modric, who was making his 162nd appearance for his nation, is going to end his international career, Gvardiol in Qatar has emerged as a prospective future captain. Ivan Perisic headed the ball across the goal from a well-executed Croatia free-kick for the diving Gvardiol to beat Bounou. The advantage, however, was short-lived as in the ninth minute, Dari nodded in from close range after Majer’s headed clearance from a free-kick by Hakim Ziyech. Croatia regained the lead three minutes before halftime when Marko Livaja set up Orsic, who beat Bounou with a first-time right-footed shot.
When Gvardiol was tackled by Sofyan Amrabat in the second half, Croatia called for a penalty, but Qatari official Abdulrahman Al Jassim declined to give one. En-Nesyri nearly tied the score twice in the last minutes, but Croatia held on to ensure that a European team won the third-place play-off for an unprecedented 11 consecutive tournaments. En-Nesyri was initially stopped by Livakovic before heading over in stoppage time.
If this is Luka Modric’s final World Cup game, then the two have had a good time. You win or you lose in this relationship; it will be the topic of conversation leading up to the actual final. This is untrue, as seen by Modric’s contribution. We still remember. In the same match where Messi scored his first goal for his country in 2006, Modric made his international debut. Four of his five Champions League victories came with Cristiano Ronaldo, or perhaps that should read in support of him. There wasn’t much room for anyone among those giant icons.
“Concerning my future? Until the Euros in Germany, I don’t sure if I’ll be (playing),” Croatia captain Luka Modric said. “We’ll find out. I have to go cautiously. The national team is fun to watch. I feel joyful. I still believe I am capable of high-caliber performance, and I intend to keep going at least until the Nations League. There will be more time to consider the Euros after then. It is now proceeding gradually, and we won’t know for sure when it is finished until the Nations League.”
However, Modric eventually earned his position at the top of the following list of heroes. His efforts in Russia in 2018 helped him win the World Cup’s Golden Ball and made him the only other guy to win the Ballon d’Or during that time period. Four years later, his legacy has improved, and everyone now recognizes his contributions. While Messi and Ronaldo have not gained any additional Champions League victories, Modric has. His personal area has been established, and as the end draws near, those special moments are more treasured. Outside-of-the-boot passes, the ability to spot other players’ runs in the distance, the capacity to control rhythm and tempo, and the ability to slow down and speed up games are all examples of such skills.
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