Luka Modric makes European Championship history with goal in painful Croatia draw
After failing to win their opening two group-stage matches of Euro 2024, Croatia were required to claim maximum points from their final fixture against Italy to guarantee their place in the last 16, while the Azzurri only need a point to secure a top-two finish.
Following an uneventful first half, Croatia broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Modric fired home from close range just 33 seconds after having a penalty saved by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
At the age of 38 years and 289 days, Modric’s goal has seen him become the oldest player to score at the European Championship, surpassing the previous record set by Austria’s Ivica Vastic (38 years, 257 days) at Euro 2008.
The Real Madrid midfielder may only hold the record for a matter of days, though, as 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo will get the chance to surpass his former Los Blancos teammate when Portugal face Georgia in Group F on Wednesday.
Modric was given a round of applause from the Red Bull Arena faithful when he was replaced in the final 10 minutes as Croatia attempted to hold onto their slender lead and pip Italy to second spot in Group B.
However, the contest ended in heartbreaking fashion for the Checkered Ones as Italy substitute Mattia Zaccagni scored a dramatic 98th-minute winner, a superb curling strike into the top corner, to send the Azzurri into the last 16.
Croatia sit third in Group B with only two points and are now facing a nervous wait to discover whether they have done enough to advance to the knockout rounds of a major tournament for the fifth time in a row.
Zlatko Dalic‘s side need a huge helping hand from Group C leaders England and must hope that the Three Lions win by a three-goal margin against Slovenia to stand a chance of securing one of the four best third-placed spots up for grabs.
As things stand, Croatia are ranked fifth among the six third-placed nations, just behind Slovenia who also have two points and a slightly better goal difference.
Modric: ‘Football was cruel to Croatia’
Modric, who was named Man of the Match after Croatia’s draw with Italy, was visibly drained and dejected when reacting to his side conceding a stoppage-time goal for the second successive match.
“We kept battling right until the end, but unfortunately football was merciless tonight, football was cruel,” Modric told reporters. “Not only today but also in our last game when we conceded a late goal (in the 95th minute against Albania).
“It’s hard when you lose like this to find the words to describe how you feel. Of course we need to bounce back but that’s the way it is. Perhaps it’s unfair because we all fought for Croatia from the first whistle to the last, the footballing gods don’t always smile on us.”
Modric received praise from an Italian reporter who stated that he wishes for the midfielder to never retire, and he replied: “I’d also like to keep playing for ever, but there’ll probably come a time when I have to hang up my boots. I’ll keep playing on but I don’t know for how much longer.”
Croatia’s legendary No.10 is his country’s all-time record appearance-maker with 178 caps since and including his debut in 2006, and he has scored 26 goals in that time, only bettered by five Croatians in history.