Sports
Amidst the ongoing fallout from negative results in continental competitions, veteran star Luka Modric came forward with strong statements reflecting the magnitude of the shock the team is experiencing. The most capped player in the history of the Croatia national team stated that he feels a sense of shame for the first time in his long international career spanning two decades, following the heavy seven-goal defeat against England in Rijeka on Saturday, which stands as the heaviest historical defeat for Croatian football, surpassing the previous six-goal loss to Spain in 2018. Modric explained in press remarks to the "Jutarnji" newspaper the difficulty of finding logical justifications for such a disappointing performance, pointing out the absence of team spirit, duels, aggressiveness, and the ability to keep up with the opponent. He stressed that losing in such a harsh manner and squandering the football reputation built over many years is completely unacceptable. He added that the team appeared on the pitch as if they were shorthanded with a massive gap in quality, describing the match as a dark and catastrophic night by all standards. These developments come as the Croatian national team prepares to host its Spanish counterpart in the city of Split next Tuesday within the UEFA Nations League fixtures, where the visiting team seeks to confirm its superiority following its previous four-to-one victory. In concluding his remarks, Modric emphasized the necessity of regaining stability and unity among the team members to overcome this crisis, stressing the importance of displaying the determination, pride, and fighting spirit that characterize Croatian football and preventing them from vanishing overnight. The Croatian national team currently occupies the third position in the standings of Group Three within League A of the continental tournament.
