The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Modric ‘could keep playing to Euro 2024’
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic is hopeful the World Cup third-place play-off will not be the last game at a major tournament for his captain, Luka Modric.
Modric, 37, will not feature at the next World Cup and may not yet start tonight’s bronze medal encounter against Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium.
But Dalic believes the Real Madrid midfielder may continue playing until Euro 2024 in Germany, even though it will be purely the decision of Modric himself.
“I hope that he will be with us,” he replied when asked about Modric’s chances of continuing his international career.
“I’m looking forward to that and I think it is quite certain that he will be but Luka Modric will decide personally as well how he feels.
“Knowing how he feels about football and the Croatia national team, I’m quite sure he will, but it is his decision only.”
Dalic revealed he is likely to make several changes for the game against Morocco as Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic admitted many players will be “exhausted” when they return to their club sides.
Despite the likes of Modric, Josko Gvardiol and Marcelo Brozovic all potentially being on the bench, Dalic was emphatic when asked what the match means to Croatia, who were beaten finalists at the World Cup four years ago.
“For us, this is a major final, a major match and a fight for a medal,” he said.
“We have a lot of respect for the Moroccan team, who achieved a lot at this tournament and are a true surprise.
“They are of the same mindset. It is a huge match for them as well. They are coming with a strong line-up and we are not thinking about what the rivals are saying because we are well aware they are fighting for the same place and for both it is a huge match.
“Morocco resembles us from four years ago – no one expected them to go so far. They have deserved to be where they are, they have matured and developed and went to a higher level with every game.
“They have grown into a team that are full of energy and self-motivated.
“They are definitely the most pleasant and biggest surprise from this World Cup.
“This is a specific World Cup where a third-place play-off is played by two nations who were not favourites.”
Morocco head coach Walid Regragui admits the third-place play-off is the “worst game” to play in – but still wants his side to become the first African nation to medal in a finals.
Having beaten Belgium, Spain and Portugal to reach the semis, Morocco lost 2-0 to reigning champions France as their record-breaking run came to an end in Qatar.
They will now face Croatia to battle for the bronze medal, having already become the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.
While Regragui said the match was “the worst game to play” and likened it to winning the “booby prize”, he is keen to be successful in this evening’s showdown.
“We would like things to have gone differently and played in the final but there is another game to play,” he said.
“We would like to be on the podium.
“We know that Croatia also want to finish in third place. We played them in our opening game so that will be nice.
“It will be no walk in the park physically, they have had one more rest day.
“We need to clear our heads a little but, when you come out of a semifinal – the first time we have ever been in one – emotions were running high and it was quite difficult.
“However, my players still have that appetite. They want to finish well and they know they still have one game to play with all to play for.
“Finishing third is not the same as finishing fourth and we want to take a medal home with us.”
Regragui confirmed skipper Romain Saiss will not be fit for the clash, having risked his captain at just “60-70%” in the semi-final, – a decision which backfired when he limped off after just 20 minutes.
Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim will take charge of the third-place play-off having also been in the middle for the Group B draw between Wales and the United States.