Luka Modric the complete master
Iwas at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Wednesday night and there were times when, despite wanting England to win, I found myself standing to applaud Luka Modric.
The Croatian captain is a simply magical footballer who runs every game he plays in. His range of passing is exceptional and as Croatia wrestled back control of the semi-final it was largely his doing. Every flick, every pass has a purpose and is designed to create space.
He excelled once again despite having so much pressure on his shoulders. He carries the Croatian team and despite being, at 32, one of the oldest players on the pitch, he found an extra gear just when his side needed it.
England simply could not get near him. If they dropped off he killed them with a perfect pass, and if they got too tight he spun the ball past them and took them out of the game.
Above all, Modric is an incredibly brave player. I don’t mean that physically, but in the football sense when bravery means being available for the ball in tight situations, taking responsibility and easing the weight on your team-mates.
There has been no finer midfielder in the tournament and I believe it is between Modric and Kylian Mbappe for player of the tournament.
The smart money might be on Mbappe but I wouldn’t rule Modric out from having the final say on Sunday.
He is performing consistently at a level that very few others could hope to reach. Of all those central to Real Madrid’s three successive Champions League triumphs it is arguable that Modric is perhaps the most important. He does things so few others can. Dictating the tempo of a match is an incredibly difficult skill but Modric is able to adapt and thrive no matter the circumstances, as England now know. What a player.