The Vatreni will have to fend off competition from the North Africans, as well as Belgium and Canada if they are to make the round of 16. However, with the iconic Luka Modric spearheading the 2018 runners-up, Zlatko Dalić’s side should feel confident.
Speaking of the Real Madrid superstar, he was unsurprisingly named in Croatia’s starting eleven for their 2022 FIFA World Cup opener. The former Tottenham ace, who continues to age like fine wine, captained his country in their first game as they strive to match the heights they reached in Russia.
And without even kicking a ball, the 37-year-old made history. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner became the first player ever to feature in both the FIFA World Cup and European Championship in three different decades.
Modric made his debut in this prestigious competition way back in 2006, coming on as a substitute in the group stage as his team failed to qualify for the last 16. Two years later, he made a name for himself on the international scene with his brilliant Euro 2008 campaign and was eventually included in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.
Since then, Modric has gone on to feature in three other FIFA World Cups spanning another two decades – Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and now Qatar 2022. Additionally, he has played in every European Championship since his breakout display at Euro 2008, taking center stage in the 2012, 2016, and 2020 (which was held in 2021) editions.
This is just another milestone in what has been a stellar career for the Croatian maestro. Regardless of whether the Vatreni make it out of the group stage or not, Modric has established himself as one of the greatest midfielders of this generation.
