One of many extra poignant moments on an evening filled with shifting scenes got here not on the soccer area however in a cramped room inside Leipzig’s Crimson Bull Enviornment.
An Italian journalist took the mic and made extra of a request to Luka Modric relatively than asking him a query within the post-match press convention. “I’d prefer to ask you,” he started, “to by no means retire out of your taking part in profession since you are one of many best gamers I’ve ever commentated on, thanks.”
His eyes nonetheless crimson from crying after Croatia drew with Italy, a outcome that every one however knocked them out of Euros, Modric finally smiled.
He winked on the journalist and replied: “I’d additionally prefer to maintain taking part in ceaselessly however there in all probability will come a time when I’ve to hold up my boots…”
This was a very stunning second within the post-match press convention ❤️#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #CROITA pic.twitter.com/K8VowAgm7m
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 24, 2024
If that point is now, if that is the final time we see Modric within the well-known chequered Croatia shirt, there wouldn’t be a extra heartbreaking farewell.
Like they’ve completed in event soccer for the final six years, Croatia have been popping out on high in a scrappy, stuttering tie. Neither they nor Italy had been significantly good within the group stage finale. However Modric – who else – had been the distinction between the 2 sides.
Croatia needed to win this one to progress out of the group, after being outclassed by Spain and annoyed by Albania. Briefly, when Modric noticed his tired-looking penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma in a sport of few possibilities, the writing appeared on the wall. However as an alternative of wallowing in self-pity and dropping focus, Modric did what Modric does – staying alert and staying in the suitable place.
Scorer. Chief. Document-breaker.
🇭🇷 Luka Modrić 👏@Vivo_GLOBAL | #EUROPOTM pic.twitter.com/W5cID41gTq
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 24, 2024
He requested for the ball when Josip Stanisic marched ahead to launch one other Croatian assault. Sprinted contained in the field when he noticed the move being performed extensive in the direction of Luka Sucic, sensing a cross could be swung in. His studying was spot on, however the cross discovered Ante Budimir in entrance of Modric. Donnarumma saved Budimir’s first shot. The Italian goalkeeper tried to catch the free ball. However there he was – Modric able to pounce on the rebound, turning and wrapping his left boot across the ball to place it previous Donnarumma.
1-0, Croatia. If it remained like that, the perennial overachievers would as soon as once more sneak out of the group and jeopardise Italy’s possibilities.
Modric sprinted to the nook and collapsed to the bottom, his teammates piling on high of him. Beneath that mountain, the purpose scorer buried his face in his fingers, hiding his tears; relieved that he had made it proper seconds after lacking the penalty half-a-minute in the past.
Then once more, what’s 30-something seconds in comparison with 18-plus years? That’s how lengthy Modric has been rescuing Croatia. That’s how lengthy he’s been defying age together with his untiring, relentless scheming in a world profession that’s older than among the event’s breakout stars.
The purpose made Modric the oldest scorer at Euros at 38 years and 289 days. And at that second, it additionally felt like it might put him – and Croatia – on track for one more fairytale.
Just like the one on the 2018 World Cup, the place Modric impressed Croatia to the ultimate – the closest the tiny nation of 38.6 lakh folks has come to lifting the trophy. Modric’s elegant methods of working the sport – relying extra on sensibilities, escaping tackles, passing and dribbling – noticed Croatia attain the semifinal of the 2022 World Cup, a feat as unbelievable as them reaching the ultimate 4 years earlier, after which the ultimate of the 2023 UEFA Nations Cup.
Certainly, none of this translated right into a trophy. However that doesn’t imply Modric gained’t be counted amongst soccer’s immortals. Within the decade of full dominance by two people, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, solely Modric stood as much as them gracefully and persistently.
These Croatian sides by no means obtained drained. They’d maintain coming at you, outrun you and battle for the scraps. By no means fairly, however all the time efficient. And that’s the huge distinction between then and now.
Zlatko Dalic, who has overseen this golden period from the touchline, went with the identical midfield of Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic within the three group-stage matches. All three of them are of their 30s, and although Kovacic and Brozovic are a lot youthful than Modric, they couldn’t play two full matches in a row.
Kovacic was subbed off within the seventieth minute. A top-class ball service and a wonderful passer, the void he left was instantly felt as Croatia started to lose management of the midfield. And when Modric was substituted within the 81st minute, it felt like Croatia have been pleased to carry on to the slender lead they’d.
The change in mindset allowed Italy, poor in virtually all areas till then, to impose themselves for the primary time within the match. And together with his staff’s destiny not in his management, Modric started biting his t-shirt within the dugout, anxiously ready for the ultimate whistle to blow.
The referee had already glanced at his watch when Riccardo Calafiori slalomed down the midfield, dragging Croatian midfielders in the direction of him and opening up area for Mattia Zaccagni on the left. Calafiori slipped a move in the direction of his teammate, who minimize into the field, dropped a shoulder and curled a shocking shot into the highest proper nook.
Just like the purpose he scored, Modric broke down after Zaccagni’s purpose too. For it meant that Croatia, with simply two factors in three video games, are all however out of the Euros. Round him, the 25,000 Croatian followers contained in the stadium have been shocked into silence and his teammates collapsed to the bottom.
“I don’t know what to inform you,” Modric would later say “Soccer generally is merciless.”
It certainly is, particularly if an excellent worldwide profession ends in such cruellest methods.