Luka Modric doesn’t just hit the mark with his legendary right foot. On Sunday, the Croatia captain used his inside to curl a magnificent free-kick into the top left corner of Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski (52nd minute). He thus gave his team victory over Poland (1-0) on the second day of the Nations League (Group A1), three days after a defeat in Portugal (2-1).
“I will know myself when it is my time”
The win allows the Croatians to end a run of four consecutive games without a win, including three at the Euro (losing to Spain 3-0, drawing with Albania 2-2 and Italy 1-1) which ended with elimination in the group stage. “I’m happy to have finally scored from a free-kick after a long time,” he told Nova TV, recalling a “lucky” free-kick against Slovakia in 2021.
On Sunday night, the Real Madrid player (where he extended his contract for another season) reached the milestone of 180 caps for his country. “I am proud and happy to have reached this number, I never imagined I could reach them,” he added. “The first appearance was a dream, and the 180th is really something wonderful. As I said, I am happy to be here and to help. Here we go, let’s go for new victories!”
A journalist then asked him about his future in the national team as the former Tottenham player turns 39 on Monday. “I really don’t know, at my age it’s difficult to predict, you never know,” he explained. “You have to go game by game, without long-term announcements. As long as I feel like that and I’m enjoying myself on the pitch, I’ll be there. When I feel that there’s not that much fire in me, I won’t need anyone to tell me anything, I’ll know when it’s my time.”
- RMC Sport
