Today's Talking Points
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1Croatia were World Cup finalists in 2018 and finished third in 2022. For a nation of four million people, that is genuinely extraordinary. They've done this largely on the back of one exceptional generation of players โ and that generation is nearly done.
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2Luka Modriฤ is still in the squad at 40. The Real Madrid midfielder is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation and this is clearly his final World Cup. Every game he plays has a valedictory quality to it. Worth actually watching.
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3After Modriฤ, Croatian football faces a real question about what comes next. The current squad relies heavily on players who are about to age out. The next generation is less obvious. This is probably the end of an era.
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4Croatia are in Group L with England, Ghana and Panama. They'll compete for second with England, and a late Modriฤ run to the knockouts is very much on the cards. You never quite write Croatia off when he's playing.
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5They almost never concede cheap goals โ Croatia have been one of the most defensively solid sides at the last two World Cups. That's why they keep reaching the late stages despite not being fancied at the start.
๐บ Top Thing To Say Down The Pub
Modriฤ is 40 and playing his last World Cup. He's been the best midfielder in the world for a decade. Whatever you think of Croatia, at least watch him.
๐ซ Avoid Saying
"Croatia are past it" โ they finished third in 2022. That was two years ago. They're not past it yet, and Modriฤ apparently doesn't age like the rest of us.