Croatia captain Luka Modric expressed hope that fans will continue to support the team despite their heavy 7-0 defeat to England, as they prepare to face world champions Spain on Tuesday in the UEFA Nations League. The loss, which took place on Saturday in Rijeka, marked a significant setback for Modric and his teammates, with the veteran midfielder describing the performance as “ashamed” and uncharacteristic of the Croatian national team.
Croatia, who are competing in Group A3, will host Spain in Split seeking to recover from their recent humbling defeat. Spain, who secured their second World Cup title in July and remain unbeaten in 41 matches, enter the fixture with three wins from their initial three group games. The Spaniards also defeated Croatia 4-1 earlier in the international break in Seville, underscoring the challenge Croatia faces.
Modric, who earned his 205th international cap against England, emphasized that the nature of the loss was more concerning than the defeat itself. “Losing isn’t the problem, but the way we lost is,” he said, urging fans to maintain their support as the team works to improve. The atmosphere for the England match was notably subdued due to a one-match fan ban following incidents of racism, limiting attendance to 6,000 local children under 14 and a small contingent of England supporters.
Looking ahead to the match against Spain, Modric acknowledged the strength of their opponents. “Spain is the best team in the world. They’re the champions,” he said. “We have to fix everything, be aggressive, and not give them too much space to find solutions.” Despite the recent losses, Modric has not confirmed how much longer he will continue with the national team, stating that decisions will be made one game at a time.
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, in his second spell leading the national side, described the upcoming game as an opportunity for quick redemption. “It was incredibly tough. We’ll never forget it, but when there’s a fire, you have to react,” Bilic said. He recognized Spain’s quality but underscored the need for his team to respond positively.
Meanwhile, England’s manager Thomas Tuchel appeared to gain renewed confidence following the dominant victory over Croatia, a stark contrast to the criticism he faced after England’s late exit from the World Cup in July. The 7-0 win, with multiple goal scorers including Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka who both netted twice, demonstrated a resurgent England side. Tuchel’s tactical decisions had been questioned following England’s semifinal loss to Argentina, but recent performances in the Nations League suggest the team is regaining momentum under his guidance.