The day has finally come. Luka Modrić finally bids farewell to Real Madrid and their fans after a legendary stint that spanned 13 seasons. Modrić played his last game for Los Blancos in a 4-0 loss to PSG Wednesday night; coming off the bench late in the 2nd half with the game already out of hand. I get that he wanted to play one more tournament and win one more trophy with Real Madrid, but it was kind of a shitty send off for Modrić in my opinion. He came off the bench late in every match during the CWC and had little impact. But I guess all would have been worth the trip if there was one more trophy lift in Modrić’s arms.
His last game for Real Madrid was played in New York. 🇺🇸
Hopefully his last game in Croatian checkers will also be in New York. 🇺🇸
2026 World Cup Final will be held in New York City July 19th, 2026. 👀
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Borna Sosa was the standout for Crystal Palace in the first half. Seemed an efficient outlet on the left. Two superb crosses to set up Mateta and Esse, respectively. Clever passer. A promising start for the left wing-back. #CPFC
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Anonymous is giving him a clean slate and keeping an open mind – maybe he’ll look/perform better with better players around him (Guehi, Wharton, Eze, etc)
Keep in mind Palace play a back three (he has Guehi behind/next to him) so he has less responsibility defensively playing as a LWB (as opposed to Croatia playing a back 4 and him being a LB)
But also, let’s see how many of their best players stay this window (all three are in high demand from other PL teams)
Rip Real Modrić
Forza AC Modrić
@ Živa istina
I forgot what you called the grown man who wears a players name and number jersey?
Call me it as soon at is official because I am getting a Modrić Milan jersey !!
Amazing how I am nogometaš centric.
Real Modrić done, Madrid doesn’t exist for me.
Here in a city with an Ontario Hockey League team there are adults who wear team jerseys with the names of 16-year-old players on their backs.
And we’re not talking Yamal-type talents here … we’re talking teens who will never be heard from again on the hockey front after a few years.
I have Modric Croatia and Real kits and my brother even bought me a Tottenham one when he played there. Most of my Croatia shirts are blank on the back; I have a few Modric ones and a Boban.
I wonder if Luka will teach Pulisic to speak Croatian. (It is said he speaks a few languages but that is not one of them.)
Pulisic has Croatian citizenship; he requested years back so it would facilitate him playing in the Bundesliga. I would be surprised if he knows more than 5 words in Croatian. I hope he embraces our culture for his own benefit.
My belief is that being with Modric for the next season will help him in his leadership skills in uniting the American Team moving into the World Cup. The American Team is not technical at all so only can win if they play like the world has learned from Croatia: “#familia” “#family” All is possible with family.
Here in a city with an Ontario Hockey League team there are adults who wear team jerseys with the names of 16-year-old players on their backs.
And we’re not talking Yamal-type talents here … we’re talking teens who will never be heard from again on the hockey front after a few years.
I have Modric Croatia and Real kits and my brother even bought me a Tottenham one when he played there. Most of my Croatia shirts are blank on the back; I have a few Modric ones and a Boban.
I wonder if Luka will teach Pulisic to speak some Croatian. (It is said he speaks a few languages but that is not one of them.)
Reply is “awaiting moderation.”
Was it “jock sniffer”! or “hero worshipper”; I do not know but he made very valid points….. however at this point: Modric and the Croatian Soccer Team as a symbol of Croatian Self Determination are definitely exception. If we are not Proud of who we are who will be!!! In this context as a small nation it’s important to share our joy.
Lmao, he called them jock sniffers
Borna Sosa signs for Crystal Palace. The guy struggled at Torino although he did have glandular fever and lost his starting 11 position in the second half of the season according to the interview that he gave.
Ivanusec looks like joining PAOK.
@MART
Are these good moves?
I figure they definitely both need a change of scenery. Ivanusec has been languishing on the bench. He has to move on.
Sosa has had two rough seasons in a row. He struggled at Ajax, and his struggles continued at Torino. He has to turn it around this year but I don’t know if going to the Premier League is the best choice for him? Does anyone see him getting a ton of playing time for Crystal Palace? But maybe it’s a good sign that he is prepared to take on a challenge, going to a team that is coming off an FA Cup win and one that plays in such a competitive and physical league.
Other guys who need a bounce back year include Vidovic and Zvonarek. I still have high hopes for both. It will also be great if Matanovic can earn a starting role for Freiburg this season after the way last season ended at Frankfurt.
Luka’s team just bought Morgan Gibbs-White for £60m
That’s £115m spent in 2 days 😊
So far Croatia has looked pretty dominant in the qualifiers, beating the teams they should beat. Croatia turning 35 years old, USA turning 250 years old. The time could not be better. If Ante is right and Marko P., Petar S. continue to develop another year, and Perisic stays fresh and strong, why not?
Croatia is turning exactly 1400 years old next year
Awesome! I stand corrected rightly, just 1365 years off. Ouch!
Can you tell me the event that signifies the generally accepted agreed upon genesis?
The Croat tribes (who were residing in modern day Czech) were invited by the Byzantines to get rid of the violent Avars (who were occupying modern Croatia).
Byzantines thought Croats would clear out the Avars (which they successfully did) but likely wouldn’t stick around as warrior tribes don’t tend to stick around and govern so well.
The Croats ended up sticking around and the nearby Rome (who wanted to restore the church in areas invaded by the Avars and pagan Slavs) offered Baptism and it established a new and important relationship.
Croats actually arrived and started dominating the Avars a couple of decades before the year 626 AD, but this 626 date is when Ban (Duke) Klukas began his rule and named his people after his eldest brother HRVAT.
hvala ti za obrazovanje
Jagusic goal
In 3-0 friendly
Check his IG stories
Picks up ball and dribbles, feints and deeks past 5 players, while cutting in from the right, and puts it into the corner
Boy has fast feet and excellent close control
the boy is real good
You can’t teach the skill on that goal – it’s his natural ability he was born with and instinct and vision where to go (like Zuti)
Sure he can work on technique and skill aspect but a lot of his play is just natural ability
F Lamal – we’re cooking up a Jagusic
Not sure if mentioned before but he’s following Luka V’s club on IG😊😊😊
that’s right
I hope Jagusic doesn’t smoke and drink like Zuti.
@MART
https://croatiansports.com/rising-croatian-midfielder-lovro-chelfi-set-to-join-barcelona/#comments/518627
Matanovic to Freiburg seems like a good move. From what I can gather, Freiburg lacks a good center forward. Their top scorers last season are both wingers (Grifo and Doan, 10 goals each) so hopefully Igor will come in and fill a real need at his new club. It’s also great that Freiburg is playing in Europe as more games means more opportunity to play. If Igor is playing and in form, I hope he will be called up to the NT again.
Kotarski to FC Copenhagen is a bit of a “meh” move but if I’m not wrong, the Danish league is quite heavily scouted… that’s the only plus I can think of. Also, his new team will be to looking to qualify for Champions League this season. On the subject of our NT goalkeepers, I’m concerned about Livakovic’s situation at Fener which was also raised by Anonymous in an earlier post.
His last game for Madrid was played in New Jersey
Let’s hope his last game for the Vatreni is also played in New Jersey
Or you could say New York City Area
The game was played in New Jersey, not NY.
DZ Wednesday 4-2 friendly highlights
***.youtube.com/watch?v=nc9dBxB6hBQ
Goals: Vidovic, Mudra x2, 17 yo Patrik Horvat
Is that tournament still going?
I think it wasn’t late in the second half he came in, rather a bit before the halfway point.
Given he’s not returning to the team — and especially given they have a new coach — I’m not surprised he didn’t play more throughout the tournament.
But I bet if he was given the choice (which I guess was possibly the case) of being done at Real after La Liga or after the CWC, he’d have chosen the latter
— whatever was further down the road.
The giveaways on the first two goals were unreal, no pun intended.