Euro 2016: Luka Modric can drive Croatia out from brilliant class of '98 shadow
Team of Bilic, Boban and Suker came third in France giving current generation plenty to live up to, writes Jack Pitt-Brooke in Paris
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Your support makes all the difference.Before this brilliant Croatian team flew out to France, they attended a farewell reception organised by Davor Suker, the president of the Croatian Football Federation. Suker was one of the heroes of the side that finished third in the 1998 World Cup, one of the great achievements of modern European football. So he invited his other team-mates from that great side, Zvonimir Boban, Slaven Bilic and the rest, to pass on their wisdom and encouragement to the current team.
For this generation of Croatian players, the 1998 side is both inspiring and intimidating. Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Vedran Corluka et al are precisely the right age to have grown up worshipping the team who finished third in France 18 years ago. And yet that means that, as they took over the Croatian national side themselves, initially under Bilic’s management, they have been unable to escape the endless comparisons with the old side.
The only way this Croatian team can truly free themselves from the shadow of 1998 is to out-do them, or at least match them, as Modric and team-mates keenly know. In the context of Euro 2016 that would mean reaching the semi-finals or beyond. But that looked very achievable when they opened their campaign with a dominant performance against Turkey at the Parc des Princes. There are far bigger challenges to come but, as an attempt to emulate the 1998 team, it was a good start.
“If you read Croatian newspapers they always say that we need to try to do something so we can forget about [the 1998 team],” admitted Corluka after Sunday’s game.
“But that team was so good, and we spoke with them before the tournament. They said nice words, they encouraged us to do big things, so it was nice to see them and to speak with them and to know that they have our back. It was Slaven, it was Suker, who is of course our federation president. Boban, every big star was there before our trip to France and said nice words. It was really encouraging.”
Of course words from Suker, Bilic and Boban would mean the world to players of Corluka’s generation. Corluka was 12 years old in 1998 when that team was in France, playing at their first World Cup since independence, going further than anyone expected. Everyone wants to compare this team to that one, and while Corluka said this side might edge it on quality, the 1998 team has achieved more so far.
“I think this is the best team because the players play at big clubs,” Corluka said. “But compared to 1998, there were some players there: Boban, Prosinecki, Suker, [Aljosa] Asanovic. I think we need to do a little bit more to come to that stage.”
Corluka still remembers running outside when Suker put Croatia 1-0 up in their semi-final with France at the Stade de France, a goal that – for half a minute – was sending Croatia into a World Cup final with Brazil.
“I was out on the grass when Suker scored in the semi-final,” Corluka remembered. “Then I turned my head around and saw it was 1-1, because Thuram equalised after 20 seconds. Then I remember when [Robert] Prosinecki passed to Suker, who scored against Holland we won third place. It was an amazing tournament.”
Corluka remembers the football-fervour back in Croatia that summer, which is why he is cautious to avoid the same over-enthusiasm now.
“I was in school, of course, but you know how Croatia is: even little kids and old people, everyone lives for football. So you can imagine how it is now there these days. It is crazy and I hope everyone will calm down a little it, and don’t expect big things straight away from us.”
Ultimately, Corluka knows that those hopes are optimistic. The quality of their squad and of their first performance will be enough to catalyse their expectations. Modric warned his compatriots against ‘euphoria’ on Tuesday, a word that would only be used by someone familiar with how Croatian fans think.
But if Croatia beat the Czech Republic in Saint Etienne on Friday, then Group D will be decided when they play Spain in Bordeaux next Tuesday night. The winner will see the draw open up for them, but Corluka does not want anyone thinking like that.
“We are a nation who is a little bit unrealistic,” Corluka said. “So we need to calm down a little bit and go step by step, because we have a good team, good players, but the other teams do as well. So let’s calm down, it’s one win, nothing special.”
It was special, though, when Modric won the game for Croatia on Sunday, meeting a dipping ball with a 25-yard volley into the bottom corner. He can legitimately claim to be the best midfielder at the tournament and, behind Andres Iniesta, the most accomplished. At 30 years old he is at the peak of his powers and Corluka, who has played with him his whole life, is still in awe of how he keeps improving.
“When you play with Luka it is just ridiculous,” Corluka said. “He was working so much for the team, in attack and defence, but you expect that from him. He plays for Real Madrid, he is one of the best midfielders in Europe, so he needs to do that.”
Two weeks ago Modric won his second Champions League title with Real Madrid, in the most nerve-wracking fashion. And yet he admitted to Corluka before kick-off on Sunday that playing in Paris in front of 20,000 noisy Croats was more meaningful, and more stressful.
“We were just talking before the game, when we saw the fans,” Corluka said. “It is such a big pressure to play for your country, it is ridiculous. Luka said ‘I played in the final of the Champions League and I felt like it was an easy game. But when you play for your country, people are unrealistic and expect miracles from you.’ He wants to do even better than he does for Real Madrid.” He wants to do better than the 1998 team, too, and why shouldn’t he?
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