Croatia
Today's Talking Points
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1Croatia's tournament ended in the Round of 32, beaten 2-1 by Portugal — a step earlier than the semi-final runs they're used to from 2018 and 2022, but a fair result against a very good side.
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2The signature moment came in their final group game against Ghana: Luka Modric, at 40, became the oldest player ever to register a World Cup assist, setting up Nikola Vlašić's 83rd-minute winner, then blocked a goal-bound effort in his own box in stoppage time to make sure it counted.
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3Modric also picked up his 200th cap for Croatia during the group stage, in the win over Panama — a number very few players in football history ever reach, let alone at a World Cup.
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4Croatia lost their opener 4-2 to England, which looked like trouble at the time, but they responded by beating Panama and Ghana to finish second in the group anyway — the sign of a team that doesn't panic.
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5This was Modric's third World Cup taking Croatia to the knockout stage in a row, and quite possibly his last — at 40, there won't be many more chances. If this is the end of his international story, it's one worth remembering fondly rather than mourning; not many players get to leave a stage still making history on their way out.
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Top thing to say down the pub
Modric's 40, he just became the oldest man to ever set up a World Cup goal, and he still blocked a shot in his own box seconds later — that's not a farewell tour, that's just Modric.
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Avoid saying
"Croatia always overachieve" — true, but say it like it's a compliment about a plucky underdog and any Croatian fan will remind you they've been a World Cup finalist and two-time semi-finalist this century. This is a genuinely good footballing nation, not a fairytale.