England Beware: How Modric and Croatia Keep Defying the Odds at World Cup 2026

He was a small, skinny teenager with flowing locks and a talent his own coach was only beginning to understand — a boy who had fled war in the Balkans and found purpose in football. Decades later, Luka Modric stands as one of the greatest players in history, and at 40 years old, he is walking into World Cup 2026 as England’s Group L opponent. If Thomas Tuchel’s side thinks this is a routine fixture, Croatia’s record at major tournaments tells a very different story.

From war refugee to Ballon d’Or: the Modric story England must understand

Luka Modric was born in 1985 in Zadar, Croatia. The Yugoslav Wars shattered his childhood: his grandfather was murdered in front of him and the family spent years living in refugee hotels. It was in that setting of chaos and displacement that a small boy with an obsession for football began shaping himself into something remarkable.

His youth coach, Romeo Jozak, recalls a teenager fiercely protective of his long hair — so much so that every pass came with a dramatic toss of the head to clear his fringe. ‘I was freaking out,’ Jozak smiles. ‘We even had a couple of fights. Well, I was the coach and I had the last word, so he eventually cut that hair!’ The talent, however, was never trimmed.

Six Champions League titles with Real Madrid. A Ballon d’Or in 2018 — the first in 12 years to go to anyone other than Messi or Ronaldo. 198 caps for Croatia. Modric’s story is one of sport’s most extraordinary, and at 40 years old, it is emphatically not over.

Croatia’s record against England — and why 2018 still haunts the Three Lions

England fans do not need reminding. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Croatia beat a highly fancied Three Lions side 2-1 in extra time in the semi-final. Modric was the conductor throughout, Ivan Perišić equalised with a thumping header before Mario Mandžukić broke English hearts. It remains one of the most painful nights in recent England football history.

That Croatian side went further than any other in the tournament, beating Argentina, Denmark and Russia before reaching the final, where they pushed France all the way in a 4-2 defeat. At Qatar 2022, they finished third. Croatia consistently punch far above their weight — a country of just four million people that has been a World Cup semi-finalist, finalist, and third-place finisher across three tournaments.

For 2026, Croatia are placed alongside England in Group L. Tuchel’s side are rightly considered favourites to top the group. But any manager who has studied Croatia in knockout football knows how rapidly this team can shift gears when it matters most.

What England must get right against a Croatia side built around Modric

England arrive at World Cup 2026 with arguably their strongest squad in a generation. Harry Kane leads the line, Jude Bellingham dictates from midfield, and Phil Foden and Cole Palmer supply the creativity to unlock any defence. On paper, the gap looks significant.

But Croatia’s strength lies precisely in the areas where England have historically been vulnerable. Modric still reads the game faster than almost anyone in international football. His ability to find pockets of space between England’s midfield and defence, and to play teammates into dangerous positions before the press can close, is undiminished by age. Alongside Mateo Kovačić — also a product of Real Madrid’s culture — the Croatian midfield can neutralise and then control any team in the world.

England’s weakness at previous tournaments has been a tendency to draw back against organised, patient opponents and struggle to break the low block. Croatia will not try to match England physically. They will absorb, press selectively and wait. In those conditions, a moment of Modric brilliance — a disguised pass, a set-piece delivery, a late run into the box — can change everything. Tuchel must have an answer.

Modric at 40: why his age changes nothing about the threat he poses

The statistics say 40 years old. The performances say otherwise. Modric demonstrated in La Liga last season that his footballing intelligence remains at the highest level. Where pace has naturally reduced, his positioning, first touch and vision have compensated. He makes the game look slower than it is — and in doing so, makes his teammates look better than they would be without him.

Behind him, Croatia carry genuine quality throughout the side. Joško Gvardiol, now established as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League at Manchester City, anchors the defence. Kovačić provides the legs and technical quality in midfield. Perišić continues to offer a threat from wide areas.

England face Croatia knowing exactly what is at stake. 2018 is a wound that has never quite healed. World Cup 2026 offers a chance to settle the score — but only if Tuchel’s side approach the match with the respect the occasion demands. Luka Modric, the boy who grew up in a refugee hotel and became one of the greatest players in history, does not know how to make things easy for England. He never has.

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