It was probably the last time that Croatian fans saw their best player, Luka Modric, play in the FIFA World Cup.
Luka Modric pulled his shirt up over his face as he trudged over to the sideline. Croatia바카라™s red-and-white-clad fans recognized the sorrowful significance of the moment and rose up to applaud the diminutive midfielder who is probably their nation바카라™s greatest ever player. (More Football News)
Argentina바카라™s boisterous supporters soon followed suit at Lusail Stadium, honoring an opponent who is likely appearing at his last World Cup.
Substituted in the 81st minute on Tuesday, with his team trailing by three goals, it effectively marked the end of Modric바카라™s World Cup era. Croatia ended up losing to Argentina 3-0 in the semifinals, four years after the team lost to France in the final.
Modric was somber as he was replaced by Lovro Majer before calmly taking his seat in the dugout. There was no grand gesture to the crowd or outpouring of emotion for a man whose understated brilliance can still be overlooked despite everything he has achieved.
바카라śWe just wanted to be again in the final,바카라ť Modric said, 바카라śbut unfortunately we are not.바카라ť
The second most famous 37-year-old at the World Cup is going home, a few days after the other one.
Modric is the same age as former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, but as both men approach the twilight of their trophy-laden careers, the contrast is stark. That was particularly evident leading up to and during the World Cup.
While Ronaldo hogged the limelight with his explosive eve-of-the-tournament interview with Piers Morgan, Modric expressed himself on the field.
After leading Croatia to the final in Russia, he was again the inspiration as a nation with a population of about 4 million made it to semifinals for the second straight World Cup.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo, amid the distraction of his exit from Manchester United and possible transfer to a club in Saudi Arabia, ended up benched and in tears as Portugal바카라™s hopes were ended by Morocco in the quarterfinals.
In Croatia바카라™s quarterfinal match, Modric played his part in eliminating Brazil 바카라” and Neymar. But he couldn바카라™t do anything to stop Lionel Messi on his personal mission to finally win soccer바카라™s biggest trophy. Messi scored the opening goal from the penalty spot on Tuesday, and then produced a piece of magic to set up the second of Julian Alvarez바카라™s two goals.
But Messi wasn바카라™t the only iconic figure on display at Lusail Stadium. Surely regarded by many as Croatia바카라™s finest, Modric also ranks alongside the best midfielders to ever play the game. A five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, he also won soccer바카라™s ultimate individual prize, the Ballon d바카라™Or, in 2018.
And his performances in Qatar show he still has more to give. He may yet play again for his national team at the 2024 European Championship with one final bow for his country. And who would rule out more trophies with Real Madrid?
바카라śWell, perhaps this is the end for the generation at the World Cup. A couple of them are at an age where it will be hard to play at the World Cup in 2026. We will wait and see,바카라ť Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said. 바카라śI think a lot of players will finish off at Euro 2024.바카라ť
But Messi wasn바카라™t the only iconic figure on display at Lusail Stadium. Surely regarded by many as Croatia바카라™s finest, Modric also ranks alongside the best midfielders to ever play the game. A five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, he also won soccer바카라™s ultimate individual prize, the Ballon d바카라™Or, in 2018.
And his performances in Qatar show he still has more to give. He may yet play again for his national team at the 2024 European Championship with one final bow for his country. And who would rule out more trophies with Real Madrid?
바카라śWell, perhaps this is the end for the generation at the World Cup. A couple of them are at an age where it will be hard to play at the World Cup in 2026. We will wait and see,바카라ť Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić said. 바카라śI think a lot of players will finish off at Euro 2024.바카라ť