Croatia: More than Messi vs. Modric

You can reduce the first World Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening between Argentina and Croatia to the duel between two great players, two world footballers who will probably play their last World Cup: Lionel Messi vs. Luka Modric – 35 years old is one, the other 37, both could crown their brilliant career in Qatar in the next few days.

Although Messi and Modric don’t play in the same positions and are opposite types of players, they have something in common: their extra class and their technique, their special position in the team and their calm nature.

Whereby: In the old footballer days, Messi actually still discovered the bully in himself. After the dramatic, crazy World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands and winning on penalties, he provoked and verbally abused opposing players and even had an argument with Dutch coach Louis van Gaal. He later said to Dutch striker Wout Weghorst several times live during a TV interview: “What are you looking at, fool?”

In his homeland, Messi is celebrated for these actions. For a few minutes he was a little reminiscent of Diego Maradona and other Argentinian football heroes, whose unbridled passion sometimes pushed the boundaries of decency. Perhaps Messi’s indelicate actions showed above all how much he and the entire football nation want this World Cup title.

The Croatian masked man is the best World Cup defender

Luka Modric showed conciliatory pictures after beating Brazil in the quarter-finals, also on penalties. He comforted the crying Neymar and other Brazilians, remaining calm, as is his nature. He probably also knew how lucky Croatia had been: The only shot in around 130 minutes of play on the Brazilian goal, shortly before the end of extra time by Bruno Petkovic, meant 1-1.

At this World Cup, Modric once said that the Croatians are a proud, indomitable sporting nation that never admits defeat. Against Brazil you got an idea of ​​what he meant by that.

And so the Croatians are, like four years ago, rather surprisingly in the World Cup semi-finals. Again after two wins on penalties (2018 against Denmark and Russia, 2022 against Japan and Brazil). They are rarely the better, dominant side, but they defend intelligently. In midfield, the ball-safe Modric, long-distance runners Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic slow down the action, the trio have known each other for years and never lose patience and overview.

However, the best Croatian player at this World Cup is a 20-year-old defender who plays with a mask after breaking his nose. Josko Gvardiol has finally catapulted himself into the world class in recent weeks. Those who know the scene have long known about the enormous potential of the RB Leipzig defender, who is being courted by almost every elite club in Europe. The transfer fee for Gvardiol during the winter break or at the latest at the end of the season should be CHF 100 million or more.

Like Argentina, the Croatians also managed to sneak through part of this World Cup, two 0-0 draws against Morocco and Belgium in the preliminary round bear witness to this. And if Belgium’s striker Romelu Lukaku hadn’t missed several top chances in the closing stages, Modric’s World Cup career would have come to an unspectacular end after the group stage.

How important will Lautaro Martínez become for Argentina?

Now the virtuoso strategist is appearing at least once more on the biggest stage in Doha. The Croatians will be looking to avoid making mistakes as they always do on Tuesday night and then be ready when the opportunity arises. Four years ago they beat England in the World Cup semifinals after extra time. “We won so many close games,” says Modric, “that helps us a lot.”

The Argentines, on the other hand, have some potential for improvement on the offensive. The injured Ángel di María could be used longer against Croatia. And their best striker by far, Lautaro Martínez, is experiencing a bitter World Cup. The 25-year-old even lost his regular place to Julián Álvarez because he missed the best chances and is still without a goal.

But Martínez converted the decisive penalty against the Netherlands. It would come as no surprise if his fire and dedication were a key factor should Argentina reach the World Cup final on Tuesday night.