Modric Acknowledges Bellingham's Potential as Croatia Prepares for England Clash

Croatia's Luka Modric has expressed his concern over the capabilities of Jude Bellingham, describing his former Real Madrid teammate as a “great threat” for England in their World Cup opener scheduled in Dallas. As he approaches his fifth World Cup at age 40, Modric reflected on their two years together at the Bernabeu, praising Bellingham's talent and character while opting out of commenting on Thomas Tuchel's selection choices.

The two players will meet again on Wednesday at the AT&T Stadium, as both teams tackle what promises to be a challenging match within their group. Modric stated, “I do not like to meddle in the decisions of Thomas Tuchel. England have great players, they are phenomenal players.” He added, “I have played with Jude for two years and I know what sort of top-notch player he is and a character as well. He is a great threat to us.”

This summer is likely to mark Modric's final World Cup appearance, as he joins legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He has previously led Croatia to impressive third-place finishes in the last two tournaments, solidifying his legacy in the sport. However, he emphasized that he doesn't expect any favors in his last outing. “Every game, every tournament is special for the national team, especially when we have World Cups,” he noted. “We all want to end up with the best possible result.”

Modric further elaborated on his commitment to representing Croatia with pride, stating, “Football owes nothing to anyone, I believe we are here to give our best.” He reflected on his journey, mentioning, “I could not have dreamt I would have competed in five World Cups. I was a boy who had big dreams and I wanted just one cap for the Croatia team.”

As Croatia prepares to face England, with Ghana and Panama also in Group L, this match could significantly influence the group standings. Nevertheless, Modric downplayed its importance, suggesting, “It is an important match, every match is important. The outcome does not necessarily mean anything; it is important but it is not decisive for our fate.”