If this is indeed Luka Modric’s final World Cup, it adds obvious weight. The report says the 40-year-old is set for a fifth appearance at the tournament, a remarkable span for a player who made his World Cup debut back in 2006 and became the defining figure of Croatia’s run to the 2018 final.
He is no longer the midfielder who could carry every phase alone, but that is not really the point. Modric still gives Croatia control, calm and rhythm. In tournament football, those qualities matter as much as pure running power.
This team’s core is older, but age has not stripped away its competitive edge. Croatia remain difficult because they rarely panic, rarely open the game up recklessly and still trust their midfield to slow stronger teams down.
That has been the pattern across major tournaments:
Against England, that matters. England may have greater depth and more attacking speed, but Croatia have long understood how to make heavyweight opponents uncomfortable.
A first match against England would say plenty about both teams. For Croatia, it is a chance to prove this generation is aging, not finished. For Modric, it may be one last opportunity to shape the biggest stage through intelligence rather than force.
After that, attention will turn to whether Croatia can build momentum through the rest of Group L - and whether Modric’s farewell can become one more serious tournament run rather than a sentimental goodbye.