Luka Modrić led Croatia to a 1-0 win against Poland in the Nations League match. Not only was he one of the most active players on the pitch, but he also scored the winning goal with a brilliant free-kick.
Luka Modrić explains what decided Croatia’s win over Poland
After the match, the Croatian captain gave an interview to TVP Sport. He was first asked about the goal, which could be considered an early birthday gift, as Modrić turns 39 on Monday.
Yes, you could say I gifted myself a nice goal. But the most important thing is the victory. We played a tough match against a demanding team. I think we were better and deserved to win
- he stated. When asked whether Łukasz Skorupski could have done more to save his shot, Modrić responded briefly, "You’d have to ask him".
What kind of opponent was Poland according to Modrić? "A very tough one. It was hard to win this match, and we had to give it our all, working hard for the victory. We had to stay fully focused throughout the entire game, and we didn't allow them to create many chances," he admitted. He then pointed out what was crucial for Croatia’s success.
Pressing was key. Our game plan was very good, and we aimed to press as high as possible. It worked well against the Poles, and we created many chances. We can be happy with our performance
- he emphasized.
Luka Modrić praises Nicola Zalewski - what a compliment
Despite his age, the experienced midfielder has no intention of retiring from the national team. "I feel special every time I wear the Croatian national team jersey. It's always a source of pride for me, ever since the beginning of my career. I'm still hungry for victories and success. I want to keep contributing to our team and country; I still have the same motivation" - he announced.
Modrić exchanged shirts with Nicola Zalewski after the match and was asked if he had noticed him during the game. "Yes, I know him from Roma. He was one of Poland's most dangerous players" - he said. This choice isn’t surprising. The 22-year-old stood out, especially with his impressive ball control under pressure in the second half, and once again proved to be the brightest player in Poland’s squad.
For Luka Modrić, the match against Poland was his 180th appearance for Croatia, with a record of 27 goals and 29 assists.
