Croatian captain humble about outstanding game
SOCHI: Croatia captain Luka Modric put in a manofthematch performance to lead his side to a penalty shootout victory over host Russia yesterday, but he has no interest in personal awards as Croatia chases its World Cup dream in a semifinal against England.
Croatia came back from a goal down to draw 11 after 90 minutes and thought it had done enough to win when it took the lead through Domagoj Vida in extra time, but Mario Fernandes headed home a free kick to make it 22 and take it to penalties, which the Croatians won 43.
The playmaker, who won a third successive Champions League title with Real Madrid before coming to Russia, dis missed suggestions that his performance might put him in the running for the Ballon d’Or prize as the world’s best player.
‘‘The most important thing for me is that my national team succeeded and that we do something big. We’ve already accomplished something big, but we want to do more,’’ he told reporters.
‘‘In the second half and in extra time we dominated, we should have finished the job before penalties, but maybe it’s written in the stars that we have to go through the extra drama,’’ he added.
The Croatians looked more comfortable from the spot, netting four of their five attempts. Midfielder Ivan Rakitic fired home the decisive effort to put them into the semifinals, prompting tears from Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic.
‘‘I was concentrated throughout the match, but after Rakitic’s penalty the emotion came bursting out of me. We made ourselves happy, but also everyone back in Croatia happy — I don’t cry often, but now I had good cause,’’ he told reporters.
Dalic’s side now face England, which comfortably beat Sweden 20 earlier in the day, in their semifinal on Thursday morning in Moscow.
‘‘Of course there is some power left for the English — we will not stop, we will try to play our best game then. We have two matches to play, we are very motivated, we will give our all,’’ Dalic said, adding that the competition is wide open.
‘‘There are no favourites at this World Cup, every game is 5050 and you have to fight it out.
‘‘The favourites, the big teams, are home. The teams who are hardworking, who are compact and united, these are the teams that are still here.’’