Zlatko Dalic praises evergreen Luka Modric as Croatia reach Nations League final
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Croatia's midfielder Luka Modric (centre) celebrates with teammates after winning the semi final match.
PHOTO: AFP
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ROTTERDAM – Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic heaped praise on Luka Modric on Wednesday, after the 37-year-old was once again the architect in midfield as they reached the Nations League final with a 4-2 extra-time victory over the Netherlands.
The Real Madrid veteran won a penalty for his team’s opening goal and also converted a penalty in the 116th minute to wrap up victory for Dalic’s side.
With Modric edging closer to the end of a stellar career in which he has won three Spanish La Liga titles, five Champions League winners’ medals and a Ballon d’Or, Dalic was hopeful he would still be able to call on the playmaker for some time to come.
“He can be the one to help us win the gold medal,” he said, before addressing Modric’s future.
“Luka will decide for himself after the finals, but with him we are way better, we have far more quality.”
Andrej Kramaric and Mario Pasalic netted in the second half after Donyell Malen sent the Dutch ahead, but Noa Lang snatched a 96th-minute equaliser to force an additional half hour.
Bruno Petkovic then got away from Frenkie de Jong and drilled home from outside the box to decisively put Croatia ahead eight minutes into extra time, and Modric wrapped up the satisfying win with his spot kick.
Dalic believes Croatia can finally win a major tournament to crown a golden era for the national team – they finished third at the Qatar World Cup in December, four years after a runners-up finish at the tournament in Russia.
The Croats will face Spain or Italy in the Nations League final on Sunday in Rotterdam.
Croatia’s Bruno Petkovic (centre) scores the 2-3 lead during extra time.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
“It would be a great reward to win the gold medal, I think we have deserved it,” Dalic added. “We have been a team of constant quality for the past six years.”
Croatia have suffered only one defeat in their last 16 matches, 3-0 to World Cup winners Argentina in the semi-finals in Qatar, and quashed the Netherlands’ bid to win their first competition since the 1988 European Championship.
Netherlands’ Frenkie de Jong and Lutsharel Geertruida look dejected after the match.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Dutch coach Ronald Koeman, who replaced Louis van Gaal after the World Cup, admitted that Croatia gave his team a valuable lesson.
“There were clear moments that showed where we need to improve,” he said.
“They were just a bit smarter, a bit more secure in possession, and overall they deserved the win.”
Koeman has not hit the ground running in his second term as head coach of the Dutch national team.
In his first games back in the job in March, the Netherlands were crushed 4-0 by France and laboured to only a 3-0 win against minnows Gibraltar.
Koeman felt his team had definitely improved from those matches, but they were not yet at the level they hope to reach.
“We clearly had a team now that had the right energy, that put up a fight. That’s something we can build on,” he said.
“But we played against a Croatian team that showed why it finished second and third at the most recent World Cups. We need to learn from that.” AFP, REUTERS
