Croatia face Panama on Modric milestone

Croatia are under pressure as they prepare to face Panama in Group L, where veteran midfielder Luka Modric will earn his 200th international cap. The match comes after a disappointing 4-2 defeat to England in their opening fixture, leaving Zlatko Dalic's side with little room for error.

Dalic demands defensive improvement

Coach Zlatko Dalic did not mince words ahead of the encounter. "We have to be better and have to fix mistakes in defence. We gifted England a lot in the last match," Dalic admitted. The blunt assessment was followed by a clear demand: "Panama are a good side with some fast players, but we must be very courageous, very brave, very decisive and determined. We are the favourites, we have to act like it. And we expect results."

Croatia, who reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third in 2022, understand the stakes. Dropping points in Toronto would endanger their hopes of advancing to the next round, especially with a final group match against Ghana looming. Dalic acknowledged the pressure, stating, "There is always pressure. We have to be blamed for our current situation because we made so many mistakes in the first match. We have set the bar high for ourselves with two medals in the last two tournaments. You can't live off the glory of the old days. I know that we have a high expectation from our fans. Every match is an opportunity to prove yourself."

Resilience in adversity

One trait that defines this Croatian squad is their ability to respond when their backs are against the wall, as demonstrated in 2018 and 2022. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who has been recovering from injury and came on as a substitute against England, sees the difficult situation as a stage where Croatia thrives. "We have shown a number of times that we play our best matches whenever the situation is difficult for us. That is exactly what our quality is and where our pride lies," Kovacic said. "When things are difficult, we pull together and overcome the challenges."

Kovacic described the England game as "a tough game for us, both mentally and physically," but expressed confidence that the team can "raise our level of play in the next two matches."

Modric's 200th cap

Adding to the significance of the night, Luka Modric will earn his 200th cap for Croatia, becoming the first player from the country to reach that milestone. His teammates are determined to ensure the occasion is not marred by a poor result. Defender Josip Stanisic praised Modric, saying, "It is something impossible that he has created. So far I can only dream of reaching a hundred caps, let alone 200. But Luka is a role model to all of us, for how to play for Croatia and how to carry yourself."

Stanisic highlighted Modric's humility: "He's a star not just in Croatia but around the world and yet he still behaves like a completely normal person and never looks down on anyone. Maybe that's even his greatest quality."

Dalic, who has shared a decade of national team football with Modric, described the captain as both a compass and inspiration. "He's my right hand on the pitch. Luka Modric sets an example to all on how we should do things," Dalic said. "Luka has won the Golden Ball and everything possible in football. His key feature is the fact that he never gives up. He is the leader on the pitch and outside the pitch."

None of his teammates want Modric's 200th cap to become a day to forget, providing perhaps the strongest motivation to secure a victory against Panama.