In the aftermath of Croatia’s 7-0 defeat by England, Luka Modric has made clear that he will not walk away from the national side simply because the journey has turned difficult. The Croatia captain, now 41 and two decades into his international career, says retirement may come soon — but has not set a date.
A captain considering the finish line
Modric has represented Croatia regularly since 2006 and has been central to the nation’s most memorable modern campaigns, including the run to the 2018 World Cup final and third place at the 2022 tournament. His standing remains exceptional: 205 appearances, 30 goals, the country’s all-time appearance leader, its fifth-highest scorer and second on the assists list.
- After Croatia’s heavy loss to England, Modric faced the questions surrounding his international future.
- He said he could choose to retire “in a month or in a year,” leaving open the prospect of a farewell in the relatively near future.
- Yet the midfielder stressed that difficult results are precisely when he wants to remain available for Croatia, saying football is not only about the good moments.
- He added that he remains happy while playing for the national team, and that this feeling is what matters most to him.
The captain’s message was one of responsibility rather than resignation. Croatia’s recent setback may have intensified the discussion around the end of his international career, but Modric does not intend to leave his teammates during a troubled spell.
Spain offers Croatia a chance to respond
Croatia’s next assignment is Spain, a match that will close their current international window and comes in the penultimate round of the UEFA Nations League’s first phase. The game is scheduled for Tuesday at 12:45.
Modric believes the contest provides an immediate opportunity to repair the image left by the England defeat. “What we saw the other day was not the real Croatia,” he said, insisting the side can show a different face.
Spain arrive as world champions and on a long unbeaten sequence, a challenge Modric described as ideal for Croatia to answer back. He said his side must seek a strong performance and try to win, but above all demonstrate that the 7-0 loss does not define the team.
The stakes are sharp for Croatia: failure to take victory would leave the Balkan side virtually out of the Nations League. For Modric, whose eventual departure is now a matter of when rather than whether, the immediate task is to lead the recovery on the pitch.
