Luka Modric ashamed after England thrash Croatia 7-0
Luka ModrićEngland’s Nations League campaign reached a spectacular high in Rijeka as they dismantled Croatia in a historic 7-0 victory. The astonishing result left the hosts in complete disarray and marked the heaviest defeat in their entire footballing history, surpassing a 6-0 loss to Spain in 2018.
For Croatia’s legendary captain Luka Modric, the experience was a painful milestone in his long and highly decorated career. The 41-year-old AC Milan midfielder, earning his 205th international cap, was visibly devastated by his team’s capitulation in front of 6,000 watching school children.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Modric said:
“I’ve been here for 20 years, but for the first time I feel ashamed after a game.”
The veteran midfielder made no attempt to shield his teammates from criticism after they fell 4-0 behind before the half-time whistle. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both netted twice, while Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, and Morgan Rogers also found the net in a relentless attacking display from the visitors.
A historic humiliation in Rijeka
The reaction across Croatia has been entirely unforgiving, with local media describing the performance as an unprecedented tragedy. The country’s previous worst result was a 6-0 loss against Spain back in 2018, but this capitulation set a dark new benchmark.
Expressing his deep disappointment to Jutarnji, Modric said:
“But in any case, losing like this and squandering the reputation we’ve built over the years is unacceptable.”
The legendary playmaker lamented his side’s complete lack of competitive edge during the match. He noted that the team lacked aggression, failed to win duels, and played as though they were severely outnumbered on the pitch.
Bilic under intense pressure
The fallout has immediately put manager Slaven Bilic under immense scrutiny, despite only taking charge of the national team in July. Fans have quickly demanded his departure, with a public poll run by Croatian news site 24sata indicating that 80 per cent of supporters want the former West Ham boss removed.
Addressing his team’s performance at full-time, Bilic said:
“Tonight we didn’t have that energy. It was evident from the first second, they trampled on us.”
Lens winger Franjo Ivanovic also condemned the display, calling it the weakest Croatian performance he had ever witnessed since joining the squad. He urged his international teammates to quickly alter their mindset and improve their attitude before their next fixture.
Tuchel finds his complete package
While Croatia picked through the ruins of their heaviest defeat, England manager Thomas Tuchel had plenty of reasons to celebrate. Beyond the goalscorers, the German coach was particularly delighted with the performance of Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott on his full debut.
Speaking to the press after the match, Tuchel said:
“He is so smooth on the ball, his decision making is at the highest level.”
The victory leaves England three points clear at the top of Nations League Group A3 at the midway point. It puts them in an excellent position to reach the tournament’s quarter-finals, while Croatia face a desperate battle to avoid relegation to League B.
A daunting trip to Spain awaits
Croatia must now regroup rapidly as they prepare to travel to Split to face world champions Spain on Tuesday. Bilic has promised extensive adjustments to his starting line-up to avoid another damaging result against the group’s other powerhouse.
If Croatia suffer another defeat against Spain and England overcome the Czech Republic at Wembley, the Vatreni will fall six points behind the group leaders. With relegation a real threat, Modric called on his side to show their true character, defiance, and pride in their final match of the international break.
