In praise of Luka Modric. In awe of his goals, guile, talent, longevity, work ethic and dedication to his craft.
33 seconds. That was the time between Luka Modric having his penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, staying focused as the ball was cleared, then played back in, Donnarumma saving from Ante Budimir and there was Modric, alive to the half-chance, turning and finishing. Croatia’s captain could have switched off, slipped briefly into a moment of self-pity, but he stayed alert.
The 33 seconds is nothing when set against the 38 years and 289 days that Modric has inhabited this earth, so becoming the oldest goalscorer in European Championship history. Modric and Croatia eventually suffered the cruellest of fates in Leipzig, Italy equalising at the death. “We should be proud of the way we represented our country tonight,” Modric told reporters after collecting the no-consolation consolation prize of Player of the Match.
And Croatia’s No 10 should be proud of the way he has always represented himself throughout his remarkable career, the sustained dedication to his profession to prepare himself right for every game, to strive and sweat on the field of play until he can give no more and that concentration and determination seen in Leipzig.