An ode to Luka Modric, Croatia's midfield maestro

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Star man: Luka Modric.

    Today, on a rainy afternoon in Paris, I fell in love. It was not a stroll down the banks of the Seine or a steak lunch on the Champs Elysees that won my affection, however. It was Luka Modric with a football at his feet.

    Against Turkey, Modric produced another masterful display – the type that Real Madrid fans have long been fortunate enough to behold – and, not to be outdone by club team-mate Gareth Bale, he capped it off with a goal.

    It was not just any goal, though, Modric watching Selchuk Inan’s looping clearance fall out of the sky before arrowing a sweetly hit volley back past goalkeeper Volkan Babacan. It was the match-winning goal; a goal of beauty in the eye of this beholder.

    “What I can say about the goal? I kicked the ball in perfect way, thanks to god I scored,” Modric reflected afterwards. “I am really happy about the goal, but I am even more happy about the performance, the victory and the three points.”

    A midfield metronome for Madrid, Modric takes up a similar role for his country. Defence transitions seamlessly to attack, his incisive passing and deft touches opening up space that can barely be seen from a birdseye view, never mind at ground level.

    Like Croatians and their famous red-and-white cheques, like Dario Srna and set-pieces, Modric and the ball belong together. It is a match made in heaven. And it is not just his passing, though that of course deserves acclaim given that he completed 91 percent of those made for Madrid in 2015-16 (It was 88% against Turkey). It is the feints, the little turns of pace. He has an appreciation of space that wouldn’t look out of place at Cape Canaveral.

    It is his moments that might not make on to a highlights reel. Like in the second half when he was chased down while in possession just outside his own penalty area. Facing the Croatia goal, the obvious option was to knock it back to keeper Danijel Subasic, a decision most players would have certainly made. Instead, with two players closing in, Modric poked a delightful pass with the back of his right foot to Milan Badelj which opened up a huge gap in midfield for his team-mate to advance.

    Or when deep in the Turkey half he feigned to pass to Srna on the right wing but instead slipped the ball inside to Ivan Rakitic. The Barcelona man was then able to feed Mario Mandzukic, whose cross was headed on to the crossbar by Ivan Perisic. What a goal it would have been.

    But that is not all. Boasting supreme passing and guile is not enough. Modric has more gifts to give.

    An innate ability to anticipate makes him a key presence defensively too. Just after half-time his stretched interception prevented Hakan Calhanogu’s through ball from sneaking into an open penalty box, while late on there was a bruising challenge on Inan that won the ball and also left his opponent limping.

    Turkey certainly tried to be physical with Modric. Ozan Tufan went through him in the first half and Emre Mor made a late tackle soon after being introduced as a substitute. To be honest, trying to incapacitate Modric probably isn’t the worst idea – it’s becoming increasingly difficult for teams to find way of coping with him.

    “Luka really deserves to be talked about, especially after this match,” Croatia coach Ante Cacic gushed after the game. “This was one of his best matches for Croatia. He really played well, was our leader and scored a magical goal. In the end it was the only goal so we need him in form. The whole team looks different, better, more aggressive.”

    For Turkey, it is back to the drawing board – their ‘Emperor’ Fatih Terim undone by Croatia’s midfield king. Eight years ago Terim had seen his side snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Croatia, a goal in stoppage time of extra-time earning a 1-1 draw and a subsequent penalty shootout victory that secured a spot in the Euro 2008 semi-finals.

    Turkey captain Arda Turan successfully converted in that shootout but there was nothing successful about his performance in Paris, a woeful showing that was in stark contrast to opposite number Modric. In the battle of the No. 10s it was a definite victory for Real Madrid over Barcelona, Turan’s lack of game time at Camp Nou immediately blamed by many for his travails at the Parc des Princes.

    Modric flourished where Turan foundered, and he was supported by a very capable cast. Croatia possess a wonderfully dynamic collection of midfielders in Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic – all of whom impressed against Turkey too. Modric, though, was on a different plain. And should he and Croatia continue in this vein, their love affair with Euro 2016 is one that could be built to last.

    Recommended