Modric to Continue Playing for Croatia

Luka Modric, the veteran midfielder for Real Madrid, is poised to continue his illustrious international career as Croatia has included him in their squad for the upcoming Nations League matches. The 39-year-old, who is approaching his birthday next month, had previously been speculated to retire from international duty following Euro 2024. Croatia's head coach, Zlatko Dalic, announced a 24-man squad for the opening match against Portugal on September 5, followed by a home game against Poland three days later. The Croatian team will be missing key players Domagoj Vida and Marcelo Brozovic, both of whom have retired from international football. Despite these absences, Dalic expressed his satisfaction with Modric's continued presence, stating, “We are without two senators, Vida and Brozovic, but happy that our captain remains on board. Luka is our great strength, both on and off the field.” Modric recently made history by becoming the oldest player to score in European Championship history during Croatia's 1-1 draw against Italy in their final group game at Euro 2024. He played a crucial role in all three of Croatia's group matches, although the team did not advance to the knockout stages of the tournament. Since making his debut in 2006 against Argentina, Modric has accumulated an impressive 178 appearances for his national team. He also secured a one-year contract extension with Real Madrid in July, further solidifying his commitment to both club and country.