Luka Modric: Croatia coach Dalic asks Luka Modric to postpone retirement | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Following Croatia’s loss to Spain in the Nations League final, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic made a public appeal to midfielder Luka Modric, urging him to continue playing for the national team amid increasing speculation about his retirement.
Dalic’s comments came in response to the growing rumors surrounding Modric’s potential departure from international football.
The star midfielder, who serves as the captain of the Croatian national team, has been an integral part of their success in recent years.
The appeal from Dalic emphasises the importance of Modric’s presence and experience within the team. His plea indicates a desire to retain Modric’s leadership and skills as Croatia look ahead to future international competitions.
The match against Spain ended in a penalty shootout, with Croatia narrowly losing 5-4. Despite the defeat, Dalic’s focus shifted towards ensuring that Modric remains a vital part of the national team’s future endeavors.
“We need him, this is a generation that still has not completed the job,” Dalic told reporters after returning to Zagreb.

The Real Madrid player famously led Croatia to a second-place finish at the 2018 World Cup and third place at last year’s tournament in Qatar.
Croatia had been chasing their first ever major trophy against a Spain team Modric, 37, knows inside out.
On Monday, front pages across Croatia ran pictures of the dejected midfielder following the nail-biting defeat.
“It was rather emotional for him yesterday,” said Dalic.
“Let him rest and he will tell us what he thinks,” the coach added.
On Sunday, Modric said he had already made a “clear decision” about his international career but did not elaborate, according to reports in local media.
“I will not announce it today,” said Modric, while leaving the stadium in Rotterdam.
Modric has played in 166 matches for Croatia since his debut in 2006.
(With AFP inputs)