Croatia’s 7-0 defeat by England in Rijeka prompted a rare outburst from captain Luka Modric, who did not hold back in his criticism of his own team. The midfielder said bluntly after the match, “Today we would have lost even to a Third Division team,” underscoring his deep disappointment with the performance.
England surged to a 4-0 lead by halftime, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both scoring twice in the first 45 minutes. Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, and Morgan Rogers added further goals in the second half, completing the rout. The scale of the defeat was shocking for the Croatian side and their supporters, with the team unable to mount any meaningful resistance.
Modric, usually reserved in his post-match comments, expressed frustration at the team’s display, which he felt fell far below expectations. The Croatian squad’s defence was repeatedly exposed throughout the game, and their attack struggled to create chances against a dominant England side. The result was not just a heavy loss but a humiliating one, especially on home soil.
Croatia now face Spain in their next match, with little time to recover from this setback. The team will be under pressure to respond quickly after such a heavy defeat. Modric’s comments suggest a recognition within the squad that their recent form and approach need urgent reassessment.
The match in Rijeka will be remembered as a low point for Croatian football, with Modric’s sharp self-criticism highlighting the scale of the failure. The team’s next steps will be closely watched as they prepare to take on Spain in what promises to be a challenging encounter.
According to Yahoo Sports.
