Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Simon Mullock

Luka Modric told to forget about retiring as Croatia defy the odds at World Cup

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has told Luka Modric to forget about international retirement.

Modric celebrated his 37th birthday in September but remains the driving force of a football-mad nation that continues to punch above its weight. Now, on the eve of Croatia’s meeting with Japan for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals, Dalic has insisted that the Real Madrid playmaker’s 159th international cap will not be his last - even if the 2018 finalists suffer a shock defeat.

Dalic said: “This will not be Luka’s last tournament. He will continue to play for Croatia, I am absolutely certain of that. Luka continues to work hard and he continues to strive for self-improvement. We will need him for some time more in the future.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.