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Why Croatia Must Continue to Build Their Team Around Luka Modric
Published: July 11, 2014
The team was packed with brilliant individuals, who play for some of the world's biggest clubs, but, at the same time, they hid the gap in quality with their understudies and disguised an imbalance in the team.
As with the World Cups in 2002 and 2006, this resulted in unrealistic expectations of the nation and the team, and—ultimately—ended in tears and disappointment.
But it was no wonder that the Croats believed this generation was capable of being a dark horse at the World Cup.
Niko Kovac took over the team just before the play-offs, following the sacking of Igor Stimac, and changed the perception of the team in the eyes of the public. He restored a winning atmosphere and a sense of pride, which had been lost under Stimac.
Kovac assembled his team around the stars who had two great seasons behind them.
Not favoured by Pep Guardiola, Bayern Munich star Mario Mandzukic was still playing on the fringes of the first team, Ivan Rakitic promoted himself as one of the best players in La Liga with Sevilla to spark interest from Barcelona.
In Italy, Mateo Kovacic was an established star at Inter Milan, while long-serving captain Darijo Srna was a leader for the team. But the player expected to be the engine of the team was Luka Modric.
The Real Madrid star is a rare exemplar of creative midfielder of the modern time, with an excellent range of passing and a great work rate.
Modric's contribution is way beyond traditional statistics—only two goals and nine assists for Real Madrid last season underline that—but the player sets the tempo and bosses the midfield.
Former Croatia coach Slaven Bilic believes the Real midfielder improves his national team greatly, as Rob Maul of the Dail...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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