The Luka Modric moment that might have knocked Croatia out of Euro 2024
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Luka Modric is used to getting personal awards even during tough times. He got the Golden Ball after the 2018 World Cup final, despite Croatia being eliminated in the Euro 2024 by a last-minute goal. This loss was a big disappointment for Modric, who has been playing in tournaments since the 2006 World Cup.
Receiving the title of man of the match probably didn't provide much comfort to him. He made history by becoming the oldest scorer in a European Championship, a record that may only last until Cristiano Ronaldo plays. At 38 years old, Modric's final act in the competition was applauding the Croatian fans in Leipzig. It's too early to say if this was a farewell gesture, as Croatia still has a chance to advance and Modric may not retire from playing for his country.
If that was the end of the game, it was a dramatic way to finish. Modric's efforts were brave but ultimately futile. It was a harsh outcome; Modric was benched when Zaccagni scored a spectacular goal. Subbing him out seemed like a risky move by manager Zlatko Dalic; he might have been saving Modric for the next match against Switzerland, assuming he would be the key player. "I didn't want to waste him by playing him more minutes," Dalic explained. "I wanted to give him a chance to rest. He wasn't tired at all. I wanted to bring on someone with fresh legs for the last 10 or 15 minutes because Luka had given his all."
It's an understatement to say that Modric's performance was impressive. It was a mix of his classic style and something unique, fueled by his intense competitiveness. His success is not just from his skill with the ball, but also his relentless drive to win. For example, when Donnarumma had to block a dangerous cross, it was because of Modric's smart play, showing his experience on the field.
Later, Modric took possession of the ball from Lorenzo Pellegrini and quickly moved down the left side of the field. He wasn't able to break away completely, but the experienced player was trying to transform himself into a more powerful presence in the midfield.
If there was a feeling of being everywhere, it was captured in a crazy 33 seconds. One impression was made after 55 minutes, another after 98. The penalty that was missed and saved by Donnarumma was quickly followed by a satisfying goal scored by a player in the penalty box, not a polished playmaker. Modric seemed to be shaping Croatia's fate through his strong personality; almost as if he had found his inner Steven Gerrard after spending years as Real Madrid's version of Xavi. His energetic style was shown in a reckless tackle on Davide Frattesi, resulting in a yellow card. It appeared that Modric was playing on pure adrenaline, driven by a sense of pride for his country. With some of his former teammates no longer playing, whether due to injury, retirement, or not being chosen, and with their replacements not reaching the same level, he felt the need to embody all of them: Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic, Ante Rebic, Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida.
However, unfortunately, there was a reminder of the past that happened further back in time: not in 2018, but in 2008. Sixteen years ago, Croatia was eliminated from a European Championships partly due to a missed penalty by Modric during the shootout against Turkey. Although it seemed like the penalty miss didn't matter much when he scored shortly after, when Zaccagni scored to even the game, it changed the course of history.
Furthermore, Dalic's choice to substitute himself in a distinct perspective. Croatia's midfield consists of three players who are a total of 99 years old. The team began to lose control after removing two key players, Kovacic at the 70th minute and Modric at the 80th minute. The crowd's chanting of "Luka" turned into a more tense atmosphere. On the other hand, Spalletti had an abundance of attackers, leaving the midfield lacking. Croatia made the decision to remove their midfield players.
Maybe the mix of experienced midfielders and younger replacements is why they allowed goals in the last minutes against Albania and Italy. These goals led to their elimination and may be why Modric, a great player in the World Cup, hasn't had the same success in the European Championship. In his five tournaments, he has only reached the quarter-finals once, with two exits in the round of 16 and now potentially two exits in the group stage. Although he missed a penalty, Dalic acknowledged that Modric had done almost everything he could. The manager took the blame for not making the right decisions and not getting the team through to the next stage. Some may also blame Dalic, but Modric should not be blamed for the team's struggles, despite his missed penalty.
