Three months ago, Croatia defeated Portugal (2-1) for the first time in history, and they did so on Portuguese soil in their final warm-up match ahead of the Euro 2024 in Germany. Tonight both teams meet again in the opening round of the UEFA Nations League in Lisbon. Zlatko Dalić will be without Marcelo Brozović and Domagoj Vida, who have retired, and four other players sidelined due to injury. During a press conference before the match, manager Dalić and captain Luka Modrić shared their thoughts ahead of Croatia’s first match since the Euros. The Croatian captain was the first to answer questions.

“Luka, with the start of a new cycle, what’s your view on the Euros and your expectations for the Nations League?”

“The Euros didn’t end as we had hoped. Our first goal was to get through the group stage, and we had high expectations, which were justified. I understand why there was such a sense of euphoria among the fans and ourselves.

Sometimes, things in football don’t go as planned. We gave it our all, which is the most important thing, but it didn’t work out as we wanted. That’s behind us now. I hope we’ve learned from it, and now we have a new competition ahead.

We were finalists in the Nations League, so we naturally have high expectations for ourselves. We want to have a good tournament and do well in this group. We’re hoping to reach the Final Four. We also want more players to establish themselves and make an impact in this competition, preparing for what lies ahead in the future,” Modrić said, writes 24sata.

“Did you have doubts after the Euros, and what motivated you to continue?”

“It doesn’t matter how much I doubted myself; what matters is that I’m here. I’m still as motivated as I was at the beginning, and I still have a great desire to play.

Playing for Croatia has always been my greatest source of pride and ambition, and I’m happy to still be part of it. The manager wants me, the federation wants me, and my teammates are happy. That’s why I’m still here, and I believe I can contribute, so I’m here for whatever is needed.”

“What can we expect from Croatia?”

“We face a tough opponent. Portugal wasn’t an easy team for us until that last friendly. But this is different, as it’s a competitive match. We have everything we need to show ourselves in the best light against a great team. I hope we’ll play well. It won’t be easy because we’re up against a very strong side.”

Is Luka Modric’s Time Up?

Luka Modrić understands that he is coming to the end of his career. The 38-year-old is no longer as prominent as he once was at Real Madrid, although he is still key for Carlo Ancelotti – that will continue to be the case until he decides to end his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. It’s a testament to Modrić’s ability and fitness levels that he is still playing top-level football at his age – not only on the domestic front, but also internationally. He still plays regularly for Croatia, for whom he is the captain. However, he does have doubts about how long he can last.

Naturally, the 2026 World Cup is in Modric’s mind, as it is the next big international tournament. However, he will be 40 when it comes around, and as he told the media this week (via MD), he’s unsure about whether he will be of the required level to play in North America.

“The World Cup is in the distant future ,and at my age, I can’t plan too much. The first objective is to do their best in the Nations League and then we’ll see. I can’t confirm anything because there’s a long way to go, and I don’t know whether it is realistic at my age.”

It will be a sad day for all Croatians when Modric does hang up his boots at international level. Real Madrid would probably prefer to have it happen sooner rather than later, so as to mitigate the risk of possible injuries.

The Future of Croatian Football

“What’s the future of the Croatian national team?”

“There are many talented players in the national team who can lead in the future, just as we did when we came through. Čarli, Dudu, myself, Brozović later on. There’s definitely talent, and when you’re surrounded by younger players, they keep you young and push you to give your best and compete with them.

That’s good for me because I’m very competitive. We have a bright future ahead. Us older players are here to help them grow into leaders.

It’s a normal process, but we’re not like big nations where this happens overnight; we don’t have millions of players to simply replace anyone. It’s not easy; we don’t have the same pool as other teams.

But the players we have now are of great quality, and I hope they’ll bring Croatia much success and happiness in the future, as we’ve done in recent years,” Modrić concluded.

Modric’s Continued Impact

“Will you play at the next World Cup?”

“That’s a long way off. At my age, I don’t want to make long-term plans. We’ll see. From this perspective, I’m not sure how realistic it is. We need to take it match by match. My goal is to do as well as possible in the Nations League, and then we’ll see what happens next. I don’t know how realistic it is; you need to listen to your body and see how you feel.”

“Who would you highlight from the Portuguese squad?”

“Portugal has top-class players who play for the biggest clubs. We know all of them and how good they are, so I wouldn’t single anyone out. But we all know who their key players are. Besides Cristiano, the player I like most is Bernardo Silva; he’s exactly my type of player.”

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has revealed that he does not know if he will play for his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Croatian midfielder was included in his country's squad for the UEFA Nations League games against Portugal and Poland. Ex-Tottenham man Modric is viewed as one of the world's best players due to his enduring quality, even as he nears the end of his career. At 38, the midfielder has managed to maintain most of the quality in his game and remains a key player for club and country. Luka Modric spoke at a press conference ahead of representing his country in the Nations League. He revealed that he cannot guarantee if he will play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, but will give his all in the Nations League. Luka Modric captained Croatia to win silver at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and bronze in 2022 in Qatar. The veteran also captained the side to Euro 2024 this summer as they crashed out in surprising fashion at the group stage. Many fans expected Modric to bow out of international football after the disappointment of the Euros, but he has revealed that he will continue. Modric inspired Croatia to finish second in the last edition of the Nations League, losing to Spain in the final. The Real Madrid man signed a new contract with his club for just one year this summer and has indicated that he intends to retire at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Next Chapter for a Legend

While it is still too early to definitively say whether Luka Modric will be on the pitch for the 2026 World Cup, one thing is certain: his legacy as a Croatian legend is already secured. His influence extends beyond his individual accolades and encompasses his contribution to the development of a new generation of Croatian talent. As the next generation takes the reins, Croatian football is poised for a bright future, built upon the foundation laid by its iconic captain.