Key events
10 min Ruiz, who looks not unlike a lanky James Maddison, swings a cross out from the left, Livakovic makes a proper hash of catching it, and is relieved to see the flag go up, though Morata couldn’t do much with the rebound.
8 min So where do we rank Modric? The greatest of his generation? As great as Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta? I guess, if you’re pushing me, I’m having him above the former and just below the latter two because they inspired a way of playing, but I’d not question your parentage on the internet if your order was different.
7 min Croatia knock it around looking to draw Spain onto them; Spain aren’t pressing them as they did Italy, preferring to engage if and when things develop.
5 min Of course, Modric is also a tough little expletive, more than capable of handling himself against whoever is unfortunate enough to be opposing him.
4 min In co-comms, Andros Townsend, who played with Modric at Spurs, says people were concerned as to whether he’d cope with the physical side of the game in England, but he didn’t get involved in it, cutting across defenders and such. Which reminds me of what Paul Scholes once said when asked about playing against Patrick Vieira: “I just try and stay away from him.”
2 min Croatia are in their Spain kit, which is not unlike Arsenal’s away rendition from 1995-06.
1 min Immediately, Asensio weaves forward, winning a throw deep inside the Spain half and Morata, puling wide, drills a decent low cross. But that means he’s not in the middle to knock it wide, so Croatia get the ball away easily enough.
1 min And away we go!
Jesus Navas a thousand years from now.
And the Croatian contingent are absolutely having theirs.
Anthem time. The Spanish one is a banger.
Our teams are tunnelled, and here they come! But not without an announcement telling the crowd who they’re watching and in what context, in case it had escaped any of them.
“No Busquets, then,” notes Charles Antaki, “for the first time since time itself began, or at least since the glory days of 2008-10-12. Only Alba left from 2012; and he’s apparently without a team now, so presumably – although probably captain tonight – his days are numbered. But anyway, by now it’s hard to see much of a remnant of what defined the national team in those days and made it the best in the world. It was good – great – while it lasted.”
It was better than great, I’d say. Not as much fun as I’d have liked, but probably the hardest to beat, and three major tournaments on the spin is just ridiculous behaviour.
Tonight’s game, then. Obviously it’s a battle of midfields, and I wonder if Spain’s youthful physicality will tell. They’ll be hoping the pace and directness of Pino, Gavi and Asensio makes a difference too, targeting the spaces between centre-back and full-back; Croatia will look to be patient and take whatever opportunity arises.
Modric played 120 minutes the other night, and I wonder if he’s able to go and go again because he didn’t join Madrid, so didn’t get onto the carousel of constant top-level football, until he was almost 27. He’s done well to avoid injury too, and plays in a team that keeps rather than chases the ball, but I’m sure his longevity is related to how long it took him to get his big move. I can’t believe it didn’t happen sooner though, because it’s not as if his brilliance wasn’t obvious well before.
We’re watching VT of Kramaric talking, and what he says is lovely: “One day I’ll tell my children I played with Luka Modric – shared a dressing room, made memories together. He’s one of the greatest of all time.”
I remember when Croatia knocked England out of Euro 2008, Slaven Bilic recalled Michael Owen saying none of his players would get in the England team. “But I have Modric,” he giggled.
Joselu update:
Details of Joselu deal — he’s set to be unveiled as new Real Madrid player next week. All documents are signed. ⚪️⤵️ https://t.co/1iW14VuJLy
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2023
“Two French-born centre backs for Spain,” points out Kevin Wilson. “Le Normand just got his Spanish citizenship after a fantastic season for Real Sociedad.”
Yup, and I was hoping to have another look at Zubimendi tonight, who also did.
I’ve always wondered whether anyone who uses this phrase knows what a superlative is.
On which point, the Croatian fans were brilliant against the Netherlands. I’m absolutely certain they’ll the De Kuip on absolute flames tonight.
“How does tiny Croatia keep reaching semis and finals, wonders Mary Waltz. “I was informed by those who claim to know that they were too old years ago. Modric is amazing, he controls the tempo and always seems to know when to push and when to back off. They may not take home many trophies but they are definitely over-achievers.”
I don’t totally agree that they’re over-achieving because I don’t believe in the term: generally speaking, teams get what they’re worth and what they deserve. As for how they’ve done it, Modric is probably the main on-pitch reason – though he’d be a lot less without Kovacic and Brozovic alongside him – but I’m certain that the pride in playing for a relatively new nation, and how completely the players and fans buy into that, is also crucial.
It’s not for me to decide which players need money and which don’t, but I wrote on Twitter when PIF announced its ownership of all Saudi league clubs, that the direction of travel was clear: they were at the star hasbeen stage, and would soon be buying players at their peaks, and I’d not be surprised were that to culminate in Champions League participation. That second step has come sooner than I expected, and my issue with it is the use of football by repressive regimes.
Email! “A little off-topic,” begins David Wall, “but what do you make of Ruben Neves’s transfer to play in Saudi Arabia? I find it really disheartening. He’s in the prime of his career and has the ability to play for Champions League-level clubs (he’s regularly reported as a transfer target for them, across Europe). It shows such a lack of ambition and, unlike when Oscar went to play in the Chinese league, he doesn’t have the excuse of having extended family and communities that he has to support back home (as many players from South America do). Do you think many others will follow his example?”
I actually wrote about that the other day, previewing the Nations League festivities.
On which point, it’s June 18 and players are still playing, at the end of a stuffed season also featuring a World Cup. It’s tricky as the international game needs to be supported, but that’s not right. I’m not surprised we’re seeing on-pitch listlessness.
Earlier today Italy “secured” third place by beating the Netherlands 3-2. Kuyt is saying the consensus in Holland is that the players didn’t put enough sufficient effort.
Channel 4 have gone for Emma Hayes and Dirk Kuyt as pundits. Each is wearing a jacket.
Spain’s winner against Italy was scored by Joselu, whose career has changed a little in his 30s. He appears to be leaving Epsnayol.
Florentino Pérez answering to Madrid fans confirms that Joselu will sign next week — deal is done, signed and sealed on loan with buy option clause. ⚪️🤝🏻
Real Madrid president also says that this is gonna be their last signing for this summer. pic.twitter.com/baqkAdn3pW
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 18, 2023
Spain, meanwhile, make two alterations: at the base of midfield, Fabián Ruíz replaces merino and on the right wing, Asensio comes in for Rodrigo.
One change for Croatia following their 4-2 a.e.t. win over Netherlands, and it comes in the centre of defence: Erlic replacing Vida. I’m slightly surprised by that as midweek, Vida played until the end whereas Sutalo was subbed.
Our teams!
Croatia (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Sutalo, Erlićc, Perisic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Kramaric, Ivanusec. Subs: Labrovic, Ivusic, Stanisic, Barisic, Majer, Vlasic, Petkovic, Musa, Sosa, Beljo, Vida.
Spain (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Jesús Navas, Le Normand, laporte, Alba; Rodrigo, Fabián Ruiz; Asensio, Gavi, Piño; Morata. Subs: Arrizabalaga, Raya, Carvajal, Nacho, Zubimendi, Merino, Canales, Fati, Fran Garcia, Rodrigo, Joselu, Olmo.
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Preamble
There are certain words and phrases that you rarely hear in and around football these days – “dubbin”, “hospital pass” and “integrity” say. And “schemer”, which the Cambridge dictionary defines as “someone who makes clever, secret plans, often to deceive others”, which in our context also encompasses imagination, dexterity and control – usually by someone physically diminutive.
Which subtle segue brings us to Luka Modric, the schemer’s schemer and perhaps the last of his type, a gorgeously inventive sprite with chammy feet, double-jointed hips and Mozart’s mind. This might be the last time we see him in the international game, but what a run it’s been, taking in a World Cup final, a World Cup third place … and tonight. Can Croatia finally take a debut title?
Modric’s performance in their semi-final win over the Netherlands was both staggering and humdrum, everything to which we’ve become accustomed from that bears no resemblance to anything we’ve seen from anyone else – and at the age of 37 too. The basic facts are obvious: he won a penalty and scored a penalty. But what really stood out was how easily he bossed the game with subtle touches and angles, cunning nips and duck – along with, of course, the booming outside-of-the-foot passes that make a mockery of both physics and every other player currently playing the game.
Spain, though, will not simply hand him the send-off he deserves. Though they’re nowhere near where they once were, their ability to retain possession – even in the absence of Pedri – means they’re a brutal team to play, never mind beat. Like Croatia, they lack goalpower so assume their dominance will, at some point, lead to them scoring however many they need to get the job done … or, put another way, I’d not be at all surprised to see extra time and penalties. Nor would I be if, at the end of things, the arch schemer revealed a clever, secret scheme to keep on scheming.
Kick-off: 8.45pm local, 7.45pm BST
