Luka Modric has been one of the standout players at the World Cup, and the Croatian midfielder was at it again on Sunday as he guided his side to a tense victory over Denmark, with a penalty shootout needed to separate the two sides.
He could have put the game to bed prior to the shootout had he scored a penalty in extra time, but that was the only time he put a foot wrong as he dictated proceedings from the middle of the park.
Here’s a closer look at Modric’s performance.
KEY STATS
Goals – 0
Assists – 0
Shots – 3
Shots on target – 2
Pass Accuracy – 83%
Key Passes – 5
Dribbles – 3
30-SECOND REPORT
Modric has found another gear at the World Cup and it was on display again on Sunday. His copy-book was blotted by a missed penalty in extra time that would almost certainly have won the game, but other than that, he barely put a foot wrong, and he redeemed himself in any case by converting in the shootout.
GOT RIGHT
Passing – Modric has a well-established reputation as one of the best passers in the world, and that was on show again at Nizhny Novgorod. He was constantly setting up his teammates in strong positions.
Command – The Croat’s passing is sensational but what truly sets him apart is the way he controls the game from midfield. Through his passing and movement, Modric made it clear that he was the one running the show.
GOT WRONG
His penalty miss in extra time was looking like one of those fateful moments the game often throws up. With a win riding on the outcome, there’s no one Croatia would rather have stepping up to the spot, but this was one of those rare occasions Modric let them down. Thankfully, he’d redeem himself by scoring in the shootout.
VERDICT
Modric is arguably the most complete player in the game at the moment, and it shows in displays like this. Missed penalty aside, the Real Madrid man put on a clinic of how the midfield position should be played. His passing, vision, movement, and game management were all superb. Right now, Modric has to be a frontrunner for player of the tournament.
RATING – 7/10
