Luka Modric has admitted that Casemiro's penalty in Brazil's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Croatia was "too good" - despite telling goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic where the Manchester United midfielder was going to aim his spot-kick.
After Neymar gave Brazil the lead in the first half of extra-time on Friday, the five-time World Cup winners looked destined to progress to the semi-finals. However, Croatia, who reached the final four years ago in Russia, hit back in the second period of extra-time through a deflected effort from Bruno Petkovic.
It meant the contest went to penalties and Croatia were 4-2 victors in the shoot-out, inspired by the heroics of goalkeeper Livakovic.
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The shot-stopper, who plays his club football for Dinamo Zagreb, denied Rodrygo and saw Marquinhos' kick come back off the post. In between their misses, Casemiro did find the net, firing his penalty home with conviction.
Modric informed Livakovic ahead of the shootout which way he expected former Real Madrid teammate Casemiro to go. Livakovic dived the right way but was beaten by the sheer power of the United midfielder's effort.
"I told him about Casemiro," Modric told El Chiringuito TV. "I know where he would have shot his penalty. Livakovic went in the right direction but Case is too good."
Modric and Casemiro played alongside each other in Madrid's midfield for almost a decade, during which time they helped the Spanish giants win a plethora of trophies. Casemiro joined United in an initial £60million deal during the summer and has made an exceptional start to life at Old Trafford.
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