Zlatko Dalic praises Luka Modric as Croatia’s ‘right-hand man’ and guide at the 2026 World Cup By Thiago Lemos
3 min read
 |
At 40 years old and about to play in his fifth World Cup, Luka Modric represents much more than a technical talent for the Croatian national team. The midfielder centralizes the organization of the game, in addition to guiding the younger athletes, assuming a crucial role of mentor, guidance and encouragement within the group. His ability to maintain high performance for so long, participating in five World Cups, highlights a rare feat of longevity on the world football scene.
Zlatko Dalic, commander of the Croatia team, which will face England next Wednesday (17th), at 5pm (Brasília time), in its debut in Group L of the World Cup, highlighted Modric’s relevance. The coach described the athlete as a model of “work and fight” for the national squad.
At the official press conference, alongside the star, Dalic emphasized the captain’s impact. “He is immensely important, both for his leadership and for participating in five World Cups,” said the coach. “Modric is my right-hand man on the field. It is essential to have experienced players like him to lead this new generation. Young talents are emerging, and Croatia has the potential for great things. They are very fortunate to have him. Luka is the perfect representation of how to behave, dedicate yourself and fight for the team and for our nation. His presence is extremely valuable for us”, he declared.
Among the emerging talents highlighted by Dalic, Luka Vuskovic, a Tottenham defender with successful spells at Hamburg, is seen as a great promise for this World Cup. The 19-year-old is considered a gem by the Croatian coach.
“He is an exceptional talent, a high-level player,” said Dalic. “Vuskovic had an excellent season at his club and, in my opinion, he has a bright future. His intelligence on the field and ability to play in a challenging position are remarkable. We will see how we use him against England. My expectation is that he shines in this World Cup and establishes himself as a big name. I believe we will have a fantastic athlete for the next 10 to 15 years”, projected the coach.
Regarding this Wednesday’s clash, Dalic highlighted the difficulty of facing one of the most powerful teams in the competition in the opening match. He emphasized the offensive strength of the English team, led by striker Harry Kane.
“We will face an extremely strong opponent in the group stage,” said the coach. “I am very satisfied with the results of our preparation so far. They are a very high quality opponent. This will be a significant game, but it will not define our destiny, as we have three other commitments in the group stage. We know their value, and they ours. The English are very dangerous on the sides of the field, having some of the best global attackers, including Kane, who is capable of extraordinary feats. We will do our utmost. Our goal is not only to defend ourselves, but also to seek the attack and advance. That is our will, our ambition, and for that we have prepared ourselves. We are ready for the challenge.”
A member of Group L, the Croatian team, which will make its World Cup debut against England, still has two more matches in the first phase. The next clashes will be against Panama next Tuesday (23) and Ghana on the 27th.
