{"id":2006,"date":"2022-12-17T13:23:09","date_gmt":"2022-12-17T13:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=2006"},"modified":"2022-12-18T10:29:22","modified_gmt":"2022-12-18T10:29:22","slug":"2022-12-17-world-cup-modric-croatia-closing-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/2022-12-17-world-cup-modric-croatia-closing-act","title":{"rendered":"Modri\u0107 Set for Closing Act with Croatia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The FIFA World Cup reaches its conclusion this weekend with just the last two matches to be contested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The penultimate game sees Croatia and Morocco vie for the bronze medal in the third place play-off on Saturday, before Argentina take on France in the grand finale 24 hours later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Up until now, 163 goals have been scored at Qatar 2022. Eight more goals in the final two games would see that tally equal the most goals scored at a World Cup finals tournament, at the 2002 and 2014 events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CmOhIbOoces\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CmOhIbOoces\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CmOhIbOoces\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by 365Scores (@365scores)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The 22nd edition of the world&#8217;s most popular and lucrative tournament has brought about a flurry of rising stars while also bidding farewell to some of the more experienced players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One such individual who is about to play his final match at the World Cup, and quite possibly his very last at international level, is Croatia stalwart Luka Modri\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 37-year-old midfielder has been pivotal to the identity of Croatian football and he is undoubtedly the most talented, most successful, and most popular footballer to emerge from the Balkan nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Modri\u0107 made his international debut in March 2006, versus Argentina in a friendly, and his almost 17-year stint came full circle as Croatia battled the South Americans in the World Cup semi-finals just days ago.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Modric-2006-1-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2007\" width=\"260\" height=\"320\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Modri\u0107 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.<br>(Photo: @FIFAWorldCup on Twitter)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The seasoned midfielder has been captain of the national team since 2016 and he is playing at a fourth World Cup event. Provided he features in the third place play-off, Modri\u0107 will have amassed 162 caps for Croatia \u2013 more than any other player. His sheer class, together with his sublime longevity, elevate him as a true all-time great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Claiming a Ballon d&#8217;Or amidst an era dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is no easy feat, however the Croatian did just that in 2018 after inspiring his nation to the World Cup final (picking up the Golden Ball for his efforts) and he had also won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The unfortunate reality is that the brilliance of Modri\u0107 will only be wholly appreciated once he is no longer playing on the world&#8217;s biggest stages. One thing for certain is that his influence has been substantial, not only within Croatian football but throughout the European continent and even worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Modric-Ballon-dOr-1024x660.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2008\" width=\"350\" height=\"225\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Modri\u0107 with the Ballon d&#8217;Or trophy, December 2018.<br>(Photo by Denis Doyle\/Getty Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Zlatko Dali\u0107 was appointed Croatia head coach less than a year before the 2018 World Cup, in which he oversaw the nation to its most fruitful return at the showpiece event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dali\u0107, Modri\u0107 and Co came ever so close to reaching back-to-back World Cup finals, though Croatia should still be chuffed with its efforts on the world stage \u2013 especially considering it was the third-smallest participating nation at Qatar 2022, with a population of approximately four million people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Modri\u0107, there is a slim chance international retirement could be put on hold for the time being, as Croatia have also qualified for the UEFA Nations League finals due to take place next summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They took an impressive 13 points from 18, winning four of their six games in a group consisting of Denmark, France, and Austria. The Croatians will meet one of Italy, Spain, or the Netherlands in the UNL semi-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Where does Luka Modric rank amongst the greatest midfielders to play the game?<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FIFAWorldCup<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LZhG2UekI6\">pic.twitter.com\/LZhG2UekI6<\/a><\/p>\u2014 SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SuperSportTV\/status\/1603782006369882114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 16, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Before that, however, it is possible Croatia may not have the appetite for this bronze medal match whereas Morocco will still believe they have everything to play for. The Croatians are partaking in this fixture for a second time after ending 3rd at the 1998 World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two teams met earlier at this World Cup, a <em>0-0<\/em> stalemate, in what was the opening match in Group F. Now, with a lot more at stake, we should be primed for a more captivating match-up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Neither of these teams are strangers to penalty shootouts after both advanced from the Round of 16 via this method. Croatia also edged Brazil, on penalties, in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kick-off is at 18H00 local time (15H00 GMT) at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bookies are in favour of Croatia, at <strong><em>2.30<\/em><\/strong>, to come away with the bronze medal at Qatar 2022, while Morocco are priced <em><strong>3.00<\/strong><\/em> to become the first African nation to achieve this feat; <em><strong>3.50<\/strong><\/em> for the contest to end in a draw and be decided on penalties. (<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bet365.com\/#\/AC\/B1\/C1\/D8\/E129787320\/F3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bet365<\/a><\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<script>(function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(d.getElementById(id))return;js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src='https:\/\/experience.ex.co\/sdk.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,'script','exco-sdk'));<\/script><div class=\"exco\" data-id=\"ae9e2965-af9b-42f7-8603-b1b621395746\" data-show-share=\"false\" data-show-info=\"false\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><em><strong>(Cover photo: David Ramos\/FIFA via Getty Images)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The FIFA World Cup reaches its conclusion this weekend with just the last two matches to be contested. The penultimate game sees Croatia and Morocco vie for the bronze medal in the third place play-off on Saturday, before Argentina take on France in the grand finale 24 hours later. Up until now, 163 goals have &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,893],"tags":[888,162,279,869,108],"class_list":["post-2006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","category-world-cup","tag-croatia","tag-fifa-world-cup","tag-luka-modric","tag-morocco","tag-soccer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2006\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}