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Sochi: Luka Modric has already done enough at the World Cup to beat some big names in contemporary football but when he enters the Fisht Stadium by the Black Sea Saturday against Russia, he will have a chance to become Part of the folklore of Croatia.
Luka Modric trains with Croatia before their quarter-final match against Russia. AFP
Since a talented Croatian team reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup at its second major tournament as an independent nation, the following generations have been under pressure from supporters and the media from the country. The "Clbad of 1998" lost to hosts France in the semifinals, then beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the third-place qualifiers, inspiring many in the Balkan nation, including Modric aged 12 years. 32 and one of the biggest names left in Russia given the debut of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Modric took on global significance by joining Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League in 2008.
A dribbling visionary and a dribbler to the fleet, He has kept his form with the multiple winning teams of the Real Madrid Champions League since joining in 2012. Modric has been devastating in the group stages and has scored one of the tournament's goals, surpbading Messi and Argentina leading his team to the top of their group. He was about to dominate the knockouts with the departure of Ronaldo and Messi after the defeat of Portugal and Argentina in the round of 16, but he was mostly dominated in the match against Denmark.
Croatia took advantage a few minutes before the end of the second overtime period thanks to a sumptuous ball that Ante Rebic pushed out before being shot by Mathias Jorgensen in the penalty area. The captain of Croatia, widely respected by his teammates for being a complete teammate, took the penalty but his weak shot was blocked by Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to send the match in a shootout. A few minutes later, he took the best of Schmeichel with Croatia's third attempt while his team won 3-2 to maintain his dream of overtaking the Croatian clbad of 1998. " We have never pbaded this first knockout game and it was very important for us to get rid of this monkey, "Modric told the FIFA website.
"I was calm and focused.I have embraced the responsibility as captain and I had to do it.As a result, I was very moved after the match.I wanted this Croatia confirms his talent, to go further.The game was not pleasant, but our goal has been achieved, "added Modric.
The hard-fought victory over Denmark allowed Croatia to overtake its best result in 1998 and to reproduce flamboyant football from the group stage on Saturday, hosts would struggle to stop them. Davor Suker came closest to winning the gold ball, awarded to the best player of the World Cup, in 1998, when he finished second behind the Brazilian Ronaldo.
Modric will be a serious competitor to overtake Suker, but he is still waiting for "fairy tale". "Participating in this World Cup is a great privilege," he said, adding, "playing for my team is a great honor and a pleasure, but winning the World Cup with Croatia is almost unthinkable, as the most beautiful fairy tale! It would be incredible to lift the trophy as a captain. "
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