Luka Modric revealed that he will play for Croatia until 2023 in an effort to win the Nations League. Modric led Croatia to a bronze medal at the World Cup on Saturday.
In the 2-1 victory over Morocco, the 37-year-old earned his 162nd cap, four years after leading France to the World Cup runners-up spot.
In the four-team Nations League finals in June, Croatia will now attempt to win the title. The Netherlands, Italy, and Spain will also compete.
When asked if he intended to continue playing international football, Modric responded, “That’s the plan.”
It would be absurd not to participate in the Nations League; after that, we will evaluate our options. I certainly need to remain for the Countries Association.”
In the World Cup semi-finals, Croatia lost to Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, but Modric insisted that Croatia has established itself as a serious contender.
“We accomplished something significant for Croatian football. “We were close to getting the gold,” he told the broadcaster HRT.
Eventually, we return to Croatia as victors. Croatia is not a once-in-a-century phenomenon. We demonstrated that we are consistent and that we are a football power rather than a dark horse.
Despite the fact that Modric plans to continue to play at a worldwide level, mentor Zlatko Dalic concedes that time is ticking on other senior players.
It is the conclusion of a cycle. “It’s the last World Cup for some older players,” the coach said, referring to the March qualifying tournament for Euro 2024.
Our team is excellent for the future.
The League of Nations and Euro qualification requirements await us.
In the meantime, the Croatian capital of Zagreb and many other towns in the country joyfully celebrated the victory in the third-place play-off with fireworks in the sky. Croatia is exploding! read the online version of the Vecernji List daily newspaper.
“A long, happy night is ahead of Croatia,” “Long, happy night.”
Since gaining independence in 1991, the nation of fewer than four million people has won three World Cup medals. Croatia finished third in 1998 in France, and they reached the final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“Dedicate victory to a man who started all this,” Dalic added.
To Michael Ciro Blazevic. This is for you, boss! Although I might win five medals, you will always be the “coach of all coaches.
He alluded to amazing mentor Blazevic, 87, under whom Croatia won bronze in 1998.
Our small nation’s three World Cup medals are a significant accomplishment.
Similar to their return from Russia in 2018, the capital will host a welcome for the team on Sunday at the main square.
Over 550,000 people supported the team as it paraded from the airport to the main square on an open-top bus at the time.
Zagreb has only seen a larger crowd once since its independence when Pope John Paul II came to town in 1994.