Luka Modric: Croatia’s conductor in his last World Cup

Croatia’s midfielder Luka Modric celebrates after winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Japan and Croatia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on December 5, 2022. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

Luka Modric said before arriving in Qatar that this World Cup would likely be his last major tournament and he has again orchestrated another deep run for Croatia.

The veteran midfielder’s side will face their biggest challenge yet when they take on Brazil in the quarter-finals on Friday.

The five-time champions sent out a warning to their fellow title hopefuls with a wonderful first-half display in their 4-1 victory over South Korea in the last 16.

But Croatia, the 2018 World Cup finalists, are likely to pose a far tougher test for the Selecao — seven of their past eight major tournament knockout ties have gone to extra time.

Modric is still the heartbeat of the team and coach Zlatko Dalic has said he expects the 37-year-old to be involved at next year’s Nations League finals.

But the Real Madrid midfielder does not see himself playing at a fifth World Cup, 20 years after his first, in 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“I’m aware that I’m of a certain age and that this is my last competition in the Croatian national team,” he told FIFA before the tournament.

Modric still toils selflessly in midfield but was clearly fading when he was substituted in extra-time of Croatia’s last-16 win over Japan on penalties.

The Balkan nation will be counting on him to dig deep again, though, as he looks to replicate the form that helped Croatia reach the final in Moscow in 2018, where they lost 4-2 to France.

“When you see people like Luka Modric running and dying on the pitch, it gives