When Luka Modric first faced England, the world was a different place. Tony Blair remained Prime Minister, Arsenal had just transitioned from Highbury to the Emirates, and Italy had recently secured the World Cup title. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola was hanging up his boots after a brief stint in Mexico. Social media was in its infancy, with Twitter barely three months old and Facebook just becoming public. The music scene was buzzing with Amy Winehouse’s upcoming album, and the film Borat was set to hit theaters.
Football enthusiasts in both England and Croatia might recall that match distinctly, especially given its pop culture context: the European Championship qualifier held in Zagreb on October 11, 2006.
As Gary Neville sent a backpass to Paul Robinson, Borat’s image appeared on the advertising boards at Maksimir Stadium. The ball took an awkward bounce, Robinson misjudged it, and it rolled into the net, all while Sacha Baron Cohen’s iconic grin added to England’s humiliation.
For Modric, who played the entire match and helped secure a 2-0 victory for Croatia, it marked his 11th international cap; earlier that year, he had debuted in a friendly where Lionel Messi scored his first goal for Argentina.
This moment heralded the beginning of the Modric era for Croatia, though few realized its significance at the time. While he was not yet the linchpin of the team, that victory initiated a transformation, elevating a small nation’s football squad to global prominence.
Indeed, it has been an era of Modric, as there hasn’t been a distinct generation of players; rather, he has remained the constant amid a revolving door of teammates, like a time-traveling figure influencing both the past and future.
At some point—though the exact timing remains elusive—he assumed control of the team, embodying leadership and an unyielding spirit. Over the last two World Cups, Croatia has achieved seven knockout victories without ever outplaying an opponent in regular time, ultimately falling to the tournament champions in both instances.
England has significantly impacted Croatia’s development throughout this era. Since that initial encounter in October 2006, the two teams have clashed eight more times, resulting in a mix of victories, losses, and draws. Modric missed only one match, due to a broken fibula during the 5-1 defeat to Fabio Capello’s squad in 2009, but two encounters stand out.
In the wake of the bizarre Borat incident, the infamous “wally with a brolly” match took place at Wembley. Croatia had already secured their spot in the Euros and had little at stake, while England needed merely a draw. However, under Slaven Bilic’s leadership, Croatia triumphed, a victory that solidified their confidence and became legendary.
Croatia performed admirably at the tournament, yet they still seemed to lack Modric’s resilient mentality. Perhaps Modric himself, who had agreed to a transfer from Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham before the Euros, was also searching for that trait. Croatia advanced through the group stage with three victories but was eliminated in a stunning quarter-final loss to Turkey, conceding a last-minute equalizer before falling in penalties, with Modric missing his shot.
The other notable match was the 2018 World Cup semi-final, where Croatia came from behind to defeat England in extra time at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, subsequently advancing to the final against France. Although Modric’s influence seemed less pronounced in that match, he had by then become a seasoned leader, guiding the team through years of turbulent coaching changes and unmet expectations. In Russia, Croatia flourished under Zlatko Dalic, the first coach to truly connect with Modric.
Now, nearly two decades since their initial meeting, the 40-year-old playmaker is gearing up for another encounter with England, marking his 199th appearance for his nation.
On the surface, he may not be the player he once was, nor is Croatia the formidable force they used to be. The recent warm-up defeat against Belgium, chosen specifically as preparation for Thomas Tuchel’s squad, suggested that Croatia might adopt a defensive formation, sacrificing their attacking prowess for stability. However, they could struggle to match England’s speed and vigor.
Modric will turn 41 in September, and while he may not openly admit it, retirement after the World Cup seems likely. Can he inspire his team to deliver one final blow to England in Dallas? Given his history against the Three Lions and his remarkable skill set, it’s hard to bet against him.
