Was Euro 2024 the last hurrah for Luka Modric?

SOURCE: Photo

Many football fans and pundits alike expected Croatia’s inspirational midfielder, Luka Modric, to announce his retirement from international football last month. His nation were cruelly knocked out at the group stage thanks to Italy’s last-gasp equaliser in their final group game. With Modric set to be 42 by the time Euro 2028 comes around, it felt like the ideal time to bid farewell.

However, Modric appears to have other ideas. He cooled all talk of retirement post-match, insisting that he planned to “keep playing on” while he had the strength and physique to continue making an impact at the highest level.

Modric, who left Spurs in 2012, acknowledged that retirement from international football or football altogether will happen “one day” but it’s clear the hunger still burns bright for the Zadar-born midfield maestro.

It’s true that Croatia was less-fancied to have a deep run at this summer’s finals. In the pre-tournament betting odds for the Euro’s, the Croatians were priced as long as 40/1 to be crowned European champions in Germany.

In the last 15+ years, the Croatian national team has enjoyed immense support. Croatians have followed Modric and co. like a cult, basking in their ability to defy the odds and enjoy deep runs to the World Cup final and semi-final in 2018 and 2022 respectively. However, this generation of players is quickly reaching its sell-by date.

The other senior candidates to leave Croatia’s national team

Looking beyond Modric, the likes of Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic are now entering their early thirties, while Ivan Perisic is 35, and Andrej Kramaric and Ante Budimir are 33 and 32 respectively.

Their failure to qualify out of their Euro 2024 group is painful for the nation. Had they not conceded 94^th and 97^th minute goals to Albania and Italy, the Croats would have been four points better off and guaranteed a berth in the knockout stages. Alas, this time around, they were on the wrong side of the fine margins. This was Croatia’s poorest performance at a major tournament since their failure to get out of their 2014 FIFA World Cup group.

Croatia’s head coach, Zlatko Dalic, said that he took full responsibility for the team’s failure this summer. Dalic refused to discuss his own future at the helm of the national side, but if he remains in charge he may decide the time is right for a changing of the guard. Bringing in some fresh blood and the future of Croatian football could be a good move now after the current crop showed signs of decline this summer.

Dalic has been fiercely loyal to many of Croatia’s most experienced campaigners. Perisic played at left back and struggled through all three games despite Ajax full back, Borna Sosa, champing at the bit on the bench to deputise. Even the likes of Mario Pasalic, Martin Baturina and Luka Sucic were criminally underused in the eyes of the Croatian press.

Although Modric may not be around by the time Euro 2028 comes onto the radar, he could yet play a crucial role in Croatia’s 2026 FIFA World Cup bid. He may be used as one of the elder statesmen alongside the likes of Baturina and Sucic, ensuring the hopes of a nation that’s got used to winning don’t weigh too heavily on young shoulders.

Modric’s Real Madrid career set for 12-month extension

SOURCE: Photo

Before the start of Euro 2024, Modric had already put pen to paper on a new one-year contract with Real Madrid, underlining his intentions to continue at the highest level through 2024/25. Modric’s role at the Bernabeu Stadium has diminished somewhat in recent years, due to the rapid emergence of Tchouameni, Camavinga and co.

Nevertheless, he remains a calming influence on and off the field, having been there and done it all in European football. If, after the end of next season, Modric still feels there’s something left in the tank, he could play one more year in 2025/26 with a view to ending his football career at the 2026 World Cup. For Modric to end his time in the sport wearing the colours of Kockasti would be very fitting indeed.

 18+
 GambleAware
 Gamble responsibly.