Luka Modric, the 32 year old Croatian midfielder has impressed
football lovers a countless number of times, but his extraordinary performance at the World Cup
further highlights what a special player he is. The five-foot-eight player
is remarkably athletic in addition to his technical qualities, as he has covered
a staggering 63km (39.1 miles) in this World Cup, and has played the most
minutes - 604. Luka Modric is an excellent ball distributor who keeps the ball
moving. Croatia's midfield general has been nominated (by FIFA) Man of the
Match in three of Croatia's six World Cup games.
Former Brazil
and Real Madrid star had the best to say about Luka Modric - Croatia's captain
- ahead of the final to be played today between France and Croatia today. Kaka
played alongside Modric for one season before leaving Real Madrid for AC Milan
in 2013. Kaka told Omnisport, "Luka
[Modric] shows us that it's easy to play. Believe me it's really really hard to
play football." "To play the World Cup it's even harder. And he
plays like it's normal. It's like a dance for him. "And now he's this
amazing player at a high level. Four Champions Leagues, a World Cup final
and being the captain of his team. "So it's really nice and he
deserves that because he's a nice guy, always humble, so congratulations to
Modric." Modric ranks third in the tournament in touches and fourth in
passes completed. The prolific midfielder is one of the favorites for the
Golden Ball award thanks to his prowess. Other contenders for the award are
France's Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ngolo Kante.
The four-time Champions League winner is a true
embodiment of Croatian resilience - having had a war-wrecked childhood, a
successful career and now facing perjury charges back home (in Croatia).
Croatia's do-it-all dynamo has been through it all and inspires himself from
his challenges. In a 27-minute news conference with Modric and Croatia's coach
Zlatko Dalic, Modric made pertinent revelations about his journey. “I’ve
seen a great deal of hardship in my life. What is the most important is
never to give up, never to give in to circumstances, to trust
yourself." “This was my motive, this is what led me to this point in
my life.” He briefly touched the Balkan war turmoil which led to Croatia's
independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Regarding the subject, he said, "I
don’t like to go back to these things. It’s all in the past.” said Modric, who
was a child when his grandfather was killed and his family forced from its
home. “Of course, everything influences you. It’s made us resilient as people,
as the nation.”
At 6,
Modric and his family became refugees as Serbian militants attacked his
hometown of Modrici, on December 8th, 1991. His grandfather was killed and his
family fled for their lives. Modric says he is stronger today because of the
difficulties he faced in the past.
Croatia's football has been in a state of
turmoil for a long time with a corruption scandal which continues to divide
Croatian fans. Former Dinamo Zagreb executive, Zdravko Mamic, was sentenced to
six and a half years in jail for corruption and fraud, in June. Modric's
testimony was direly needed at the trial as football fans had longed to see
Mamic brought to justice for years. Mamic had been accused of swindling money
from the transfers of high-profile-players from Dinamo - Luka Modric to Tottenham
Hotspur and Dejan Lovren to Lyon. Modric had earlier made a statement that
incriminated Mamic but failed to repeat his statement at Mamic’s trial last
summer, earning the public's fury. Mamic fled to Bosnia a day before the
pronouncement of the verdict. Modric now faces a perjury charge and can be
sentenced to a 5 year prison term (maximum).
There is division in
Croatia as some can't forgive Modric for siding with his mentor, Mamic. They
want him to face trial for perjury whether Croatia wins the World Cup trophy or
not. The other faction see Modric as the hero who will likely break the
Messi-Ronaldo duopoly at the FIFA Best Male Player award.
Coach Dalic
expressed his satisfaction with his team during the pre-final news conference
at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. "Without
their character, without their fortitude, they wouldn’t have reached this
final," he said. “I’m so proud of them.”
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